Gas Prices Drop Just in Time for the Fourth of July
Texas drivers are catching a break at the pump this Independence Day.
As millions of families load up the car for holiday getaways, gas prices across the state and the Austin area are trending lower than they’ve been in weeks, offering some relief for what’s expected to be one of the busiest travel weekends of the summer.
According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded currently sits at $3.82. Texas drivers are paying noticeably less, with the statewide average at $3.34 a gallon. In the Austin metro area, prices are averaging $3.37 a gallon, keeping the region in line with the rest of the state and well below the national number.
The lower prices come at a good time.
AAA Texas projects that 5.7 million Texans will travel over the July 4th holiday period, and the vast majority of them, about 4.9 million, will hit the road by car. That figure is up slightly from last year and more than 10% higher than pre-pandemic travel levels in 2019, underscoring just how popular the road trip remains as a holiday tradition.
With so many drivers planning to travel, cheaper gas could mean real savings for families packing up the SUV for a weekend at the lake, a drive to see relatives, or a getaway to the coast. AAA officials note that even with prices higher than they were a few years ago, filling up the tank for a road trip is still typically less expensive than buying plane tickets, a big reason driving continues to dominate holiday travel.
Whether prices keep easing or start to climb again may depend on factors like crude oil costs and the start of hurricane season, which can affect Gulf Coast refineries. For now, though, Texans hitting the highways this weekend can enjoy a little extra breathing room in the travel budget.
(Gas price data via AAA Fuel Prices. Travel figures via AAA Texas).
The city of Austin has picked the group that will analyze Austin’s operations and spending, looking for ways to save taxpayer money. The group will still need to be approved by city council before it becomes final.
City of Austin transportation crews paved over the “BLACK ARTISTS MATTER” mural on East 11th Street and the giant “TEXAS” letters on Guadalupe Street in West Campus on Thursday, the city confirmed. (Austin American-Statesman)
From Reporte Austin:
Arrests by immigration agents continued today (Thursday) in different parts of Central Texas, including Cedar Creek and, as seen in the video, in areas near Ohlen Road, Burnet and Research Blvd. , as part of an order from President Trump to increase the number of arrests nationwide. While collaboration with State Troopers continues when stopping vehicles for traffic violations, we’ve seen more arrests where officers make the stops themselves.
Reports of arrests Thursday at Research and Payton Gin.
The New York Times has confirmed an increase in the number of ICE arrests nationwide, reaching 10,000 in the past 5 days.
According to the report, the instruction came from the White House to increase arrests. ICE leaders have instructed to send 80% of agents to the street, 7 days a week, to try to approach 2,000 arrests per day, double what they were recording in recent months. 2,400 were arrested on Saturday, according to the investigation, which does not mention whether the operation is temporary.
Austin police are investigating after one person was found dead Thursday afternoon near the Krieg Athletic Complex in East Austin. Authorities said no arrests were made and the case is not being investigated as a homicide. The incident has since been resolved, and no media briefing is planned. (CBS Austin)
Police have arrested Sierra Rodriguez and charged her with first-degree murder following the discovery of a man’s body in a Southeast Austin home last week. Rodriguez was taken into custody on Thursday by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force. (KVUE-TV)
23-year-old Jaylon Plummer, of Manor, was wanted in connection with a man’s death on April 3 in the 10900 block of Brazoria Lane. He was arrested yesterday at an apartment complex in the 10500 block of Wildhorse Ranch Trail in Manor.
He barricaded himself inside an apartment but later surrendered and was arrested without incident. (FOX 7 Austin)
A man was arrested downtown at 2nd and Congress yesterday for allegedly threatening someone with a knife.
@AustinVideos on X caught his arrest.
An Austin police officer entered a guilty plea to two counts of speeding after an investigation into a multi-car crash that injured two people in 2025. (Austin American-Statesman)
Authorities rescued a person in distress on Lake Travis Thursday.
The area behind Austin’s main library downtown was swept clean Thursday of persons camping and creating what has become known as a space for homeless and transient people to congregate.
The library has gained attention in recent years for becoming dangerous, inside and outside.
A return to the area late last night showed it was still free of encampments.
Journalists gathered outside the offices of the Austin American-Statesman yesterday, marking a visible turn in their 15-month struggle for a new contract.
Their union alleges that their parent company, Hearst, has failed to honor previous agreements, leaving staff without the support they say is necessary to keep pace with the city’s rising cost of living.
Restoration work has begun on Austin’s historic Paramount Theatre. This week, seats inside the theater were removed.
May was a very busy month for Austin’s airport. Nearly two million passengers passed through ABIA.
The Austin Police Lake Patrol Unit will be enforcing the City Ordinance that prohibits the use and operation of personal watercraft, wet bikes, motorized surfboards, and similar devices (designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel), on Lake Austin. This ban will go into effect beginning at sunset tonight and ending on Sunday at sunrise.
Non-motorized devices such as kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards can still be used along with watercraft designed for the conventional manner of sitting or standing in the vessel. (Austin Police Department)
WEATHER
THURSDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Federal and state agricultural officials have confirmed that the number of New World screwworm cases in the United States has reached 31. (FOX 7 Austin)
The Texas Department of State Health Services just released its immunization data for the 2025-26 school year. Measles vaccination rates on the rise among some Texas children.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has confirmed plans to convert a massive San Antonio warehouse into an immigrant detention and processing facility, pushing its target opening date back to mid-2027 even as Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones continues to press federal officials for answers.
The Texas office in charge of a $5 billion rural broadband rollout is facing intense scrutiny over allegations of “sweetheart” deals and favoritism. During a June 24 Senate Business and Commerce Committee hearing, lawmakers accused officials of bending the rules to benefit low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite providers. According to testimony, some of these controversial rule changes were prompted by Governor Greg Abbott’s office. (KUT 90.5)
The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country has raised $150 million in total, helping fund housing, mental health services and rebuilding efforts in the region.
Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of the catastrophic flooding in Central Texas that took the lives of at least 139 people.
It has been one year since the tragic flash flood on the upper Guadalupe River that took over 117 lives. Why were local officials caught off guard when the rains came and the flooding hit? The region is called “flash flood alley,” and there is a long history of tragic floods on the river. We hear the second episode of the Texas Newsroom podcast, “After the Flood.”
(Episode from July 2, 2026)
Two hundred and fifty years ago, the founding fathers gave rise to a new nation. They also gave rise to an enduring myth about their virtue and what that meant about America’s virtue as a country.
Jia Lynn Yang, a New York Times journalist, discusses how the founding myth has evolved, why we are still fighting about it and why it may hold the key to America’s future.
From Dan Patrick’s declaration that the separation of church and state is dead, to Texas Republicans kicking Muslims out of their state convention in Houston, to the Ten Commandments and bible stories permeating our public schools, the rise of Christian Nationalism in Republican politics is no longer a theory – it’s real, and it’s here, right now. How to resist is now one of the primary questions for progressive people – and we’ve brought on Rebecca Markert to discuss that question. She’s the Vice President and Legal Director of Americans United For Separation of Church and State, a national organization dedicated solely to the protection of the foundational American principles of freedom of religion – and freedom from religion.
The Trump administration is poised to start building a 30-foot (9-meter) border wall in part of a Texas state park, confirming plans that have stoked a surge of local opposition.
Less than a month after San Marcos became the first city in Texas to ban data centers citywide, one state lawmaker says he plans to challenge the ordinance, arguing the city does not have the legal authority to enact it.
A fugitive out of Tarrant County is featured by the Texas Department of Safety with a reward being offered.
Texas Lottery officials are still looking for the owner of a $1 million Powerball ticket that was purchased in Austin in February.
SPORTS
2026 FIFA WORLD CUP: Here’s the recap from the World Cup Round of 32:
Thursday, July 2:
- Spain 3, Austria 0 — Spain, chasing a second World Cup title, cruised past a tough Austrian side in Los Angeles.
- Portugal 2, Croatia 1 — Croatia nearly forced extra time when Joško Gvardiol scored a stoppage-time equalizer, but VAR review disallowed the goal, sealing Portugal’s win and ending Croatia’s tournament.
- Switzerland 2, Algeria 0 — The FIFA World Cup saw its latest round of 16 entrant when Switzerland beat Algeria 2-0 in a comfortable, routine round of 32 win.
That wraps up the Round of 32, with all 16 matchups now decided heading into today.
Today, Friday, July 3 — the final three Round of 32 games:
- Australia vs. Egypt — 2 p.m. ET, AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX). Both sides are chasing their first knockout-stage win in program history, with a likely Round of 16 date against Argentina awaiting the winner. Egypt has the bigger star in Mohamed Salah, while Australia has conceded just two goals across the group stage.
- Argentina vs. Cape Verde — 6 p.m. ET, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami). Cape Verde’s Cinderella run continues against Lionel Messi and the defending champions, having allowed only two goals in group play.
- Colombia vs. Ghana — 9:30 p.m. ET, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City). Colombia enters with momentum, having won its group unbeaten and taken its last four matches against African opponents.
Once these wrap up, the Round of 16 bracket will be fully set — with the USMNT already lined up to face Belgium on July 6 in Seattle.
MLB: The Texas Rangers had their winning streak snapped two nights ago but rebounded last night with a win over Detroit.
Nathan Eovaldi weathered a three-run Detroit uprising after taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning and Elias Díaz, Josh Smith and Evan Carter hit solo home runs to help the Texas Rangers beat the Tigers 10-4 on Thursday night. The Rangers matched a season high with 17 hits en route to their seventh victory in eight games. (Associated Press)
The Rangers and Tigers take a break from their series this evening due to the World Cup match in Arlington. They’ll resume play tomorrow.
The Houston Astros had last night off. They’re back home tonight hosting Tampa Bay.
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Texas baseball lost a player to the transfer portal and added a few coaches to the clubhouse this week. (Austin American-Statesman)
MLS: Austin FC announced yesterday they agreed to trade Dani Pereira to CF Montréal for up to $2,350,000 in GAM.
It’s the summer of 1976 and America is about to celebrate its 200th birthday.
This archival news footage shows Dallas preparing.
