California gas tax rises again July 1

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California gas-price misery continues as higher tax kicks in

By CA Post Editorial Board Published June 30, 2026, 10:19 p.m. ET

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Congratulations, California motorists.

You get to pay more to drive on the same crumbling, crowded roads.

The state’s excise tax on gasoline, at 61.2 cents per gallon, surges to 63.4 cents per gallon on July 1.

And that’s aside from a range of other taxes and fees that Sacramento pumps into fuel –– including sales taxes and climate fees –– that drive the total taxes on gasoline in California to an estimated $1.20 per gallon.

Gas pumps at a Shell gas station. — The state’s excise tax on gasoline, at 61.2 cents per gallon, surges to 63.4 cents per gallon on July 1. AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Michelle Mercado pumping gas at a 76 Station in Los Angeles, California. — And that’s aside from a range of other taxes and fees that Sacramento pumps into fuel –– including sales taxes and climate fees –– that drive the total taxes on gasoline in California to an estimated $1.20 per gallon. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post

Meanwhile, on the horizon: perpetual annual gas-tax hikes.

Former Gov. Jerry Brown and the Legislature in 2017 adopted SB 1, a measure that raises the state’s gas tax every July 1 based on inflation.

The legislation also hiked the state’s base gasoline excise tax by 12 cents a gallon, increased the diesel tax and inflated vehicle registration fees, with with proceeds earmarked for transportation projects.

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The governor and legislators said the tax receipts would refurbish state roads in dire need of repair.

In a true exhibition of the gap between rhetoric and reality, Brown said at the time:

“Tonight we’re building things. That’s common sense, that’s the spirit of Harry Truman and that’s the spirit of the Democratic Party. Proud to be a part of it.”

A gas pump at a Sinclair station in Palm Desert, California. — Meanwhile, on the horizon: perpetual annual gas-tax hikes. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Have you noticed Truman-esque improvements over the past decade or so?

Neither have those who track road conditions.

In the Reason Foundation’s 29th Annual Highway Report, released in March, California ranked 49th out of 50, besting only Alaska for state highway performance.

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Meanwhile, the gas tax just keeps climbing.

The automatic tax escalator offers a tidy way for legislators to avoid having to actually vote each year on a gas-tax-hike proposal.

It’s easier to shrug and say it’s automatic than to examine why the state has the highest gas taxes and fees in the US while its highways routinely rank among the nation’s worst for pavement condition and congestion.

Moreover: Legislators and Gov. Gavin Newsom could suspend the automatic gas-tax hikes at any time, through new legislation.

If history is any guide, they never will.

Gas-tax pain has become a California summer mainstay, alongside high inland heat and June gloom hear the coast.

Think affordability is bad now?

Keep electing Democrats, and just wait.

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The state’s excise tax on gasoline, at 61.2 cents per gallon, surges to 63.4 cents per gallon on July 1. AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Meanwhile, on the horizon: perpetual annual gas-tax hikes. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

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Wichita State University student drowns after jumping into frigid waters with deadly track record

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Wichita State University student drowns after jumping into frigid waters with deadly track record

By Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News Published June 30, 2026, 10:21 p.m. ET

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A 21-year-old Wichita State University student drowned after jumping into a popular Oregon swimming hole where authorities say the water is cold enough to cause immediate physical shock.

Kenny Truong, of Wichita, Kansas, was visiting Tamolitch Falls, which is commonly known as Blue Pool, with friends Friday evening when he jumped into the water and was unable to get out, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office said.

Dispatchers received a 911 call at 8:47 p.m. on June 26 reporting that a man had gone into the pool, located off Highway 126, and was struggling.

“Witnesses describe him struggling as he swam toward shore, before submerging,” Linn County Undersheriff Micah Smith said in a release.

“Despite the best efforts of those at Tamolitch Falls who tried to help him, and the first responders who arrived in response to the 911 call, Kenny did not survive.”

The Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Lane County Sheriff’s Office and Upper McKenzie Rural Fire responded to the remote area Friday evening.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Kenny Truong, 21, of Kansas, during what is an unimaginable time,” Smith said.

Truong was a finance major at the W. Frank Barton School of Business and a member-at-large of the Cummings Student Managed Investment Fund, according to Wichita State University.

Blue Pool, known for its striking turquoise water and cliffside views, is a major draw for hikers and visitors across the Pacific Northwest, but officials warned it can be deadly.

Kenny Truong, a Wichita State University student, smiles in front of a city skyline. — Wichita State University student Kenny Truong, 21, drowned after jumping into Tamolitch Falls in Oregon. GoFundMe

“It is also a place that has taken lives before and will take lives again if visitors do not understand what they are facing,” Smith said.

Authorities said the cliffs surrounding the pool rise between 10 and 60 feet, while the water averages just 37 degrees.

The area also has minimal to no cellphone service, and rescue efforts can be complicated by the remote terrain.

“When something goes wrong at Blue Pool — or on the trail leading into the falls — it can take up to several hours from the moment of injury to reach a hospital,” the sheriff’s office said.

Carter Nguyen, the Truong family spokesperson, remembered the college student as a deeply loved friend with “fire in him” who pushed others to become “the brightest, best, fullest” versions of themselves.

Tamolitch Blue Pool surrounded by fall foliage at McKenzie Pass in Oregon. — Known as the Blue Pool, authorities said the water is freezing enough to cause immediate physical shock. Stephen – stock.adobe.com

“Kenny was the kind of person this world doesn’t see enough of. He was genuinely, unconditionally there for the people around him not just when things were good, but especially in the darkest of times,” Nguyen told Fox News Digital.

“He would set aside everything he had going on to make sure the people he loved were okay.”

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“Kenny leaves behind a legacy of love, generosity, and light. We ask that you keep his family in your hearts, continue to lift them up, and honor his memory by carrying forward the same spirit he gave to all of us every single day,” he said.

The sheriff’s office urged visitors to understand the risks before entering the water at Tamolitch Falls, watch out for the people they arrive with and call 911 immediately if someone is in distress.

Officials said visitors with questions about current conditions should contact the McKenzie River Ranger Station.

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