It’s Not Over

So, we lost last night and Walker gets to stay on as governor. Yes, it sucks in a big way, but honestly people it isn’t over yet. We won’t lose unless we all figuratively decide to “take our ball and go home”. I, for one, won’t be doing that. On the bright side, we did gain one senate seat. That means Democratics officially control the state senate. Don’t underestimate the power in that victory. Walker can’t sign things into law if they don’t reach his desk. We now have a much better chance to stopping bad legislation from even getting to his desk. In my humble opinion that’s a pretty big deal.

Many people look around this morning in complete frustration and despair, but we have a lot to be very proud of. We have inspired a nation. We have done things that many said were impossible. Progressives from around the country are looking to Wisconsin as an example of what can be done by every day people. I’ve never been so proud to be from Wisconsin as I am now. Growing up I’ve heard my fair share of “Sconnie” jokes and how many considered this to be a backwater, flyover kind of place whose main hobby was cow tipping. We have proven the stereotype wrong.

Now is not the time to lay blame or start fighting among ourselves. It would be easy to fall into, but does no one any good. Now is the time to recharge our collective energy. Get some rest, eat some good food, have a few laughs and commiserate with friends. The most important thing to do is get back in the game. The only way we can lose is to give up. We are badgers and badgers just don’t give up, no matter what the odds are. Our struggle is a noble and worthy one and we will prevail in the end.

Looking at history has given me some perspective on this. Look at the labor movement, the civil rights movement, the women’s rights movement or any other people driven movement in history and you will find one common trait they all share. They never gave up, no matter how bad the losses, no matter how poor the odds and no matter how daunting the task seemed to be at the time. Tenacity is what made these stories worthy of the history books. Sure, we’ve already made history by the sheer number of protests and recall elections, but the story can’t end here. We haven’t achieved our goals yet. We can and will show ourselves and the rest of the world the amazing things that can be done when every day people stand up for what they believe in.

FORWARD!!!!!!!!!!

You’ve Protested at the Capital, Signed the Recall Papers, Now Get Out There and Vote

Recall Walker day, June 5th is rapidly approaching. On this day people in Wisconsin can collectively stand up and put a stop to Walker’s anti-worker, anti-woman, anti-union, anti-environment agenda. We can show the state and country that people in Wisconsin still believe in the “Wisconsin way” of fair play, open government and progressive values. People from all over the country and world are watching what happens in our fair state with great interest and anticipation. They believe the outcome here will influence the political environment all over the country. I agree with them. Wisconsin is leading the way on this one. We can show everyone that we believe in the power of the people and that we put “people over profits”.

I remember hearing about the first protests after Walker dropped “the bomb” last February. The people of Wisconsin united against Walker and his horribly damaging agenda. We came together as a united force and showed the world “this is what democracy looks like”. We protested in the streets, in the capital and in song. We pushed for and succeeded in getting recall elections against six Republican state senators last summer. We have done so many things that the “talking heads” didn’t think was possible that I’m awed every time I think of it.

Now we have to do the most important thing of all. We all need to get to a polling place and vote Walker out of office. Let’s hit him where it really hurts, vote for Barrett. Protesting Walker wherever he goes can be fun. It’s been incredible knowing that he gets protested in every state he goes to, not just Wisconsin. Yelling “shame” at him is a great stress reliever, but doesn’t really mean anything unless you follow up your words with the direct action of voting. Each of us has a stake in the outcome of this election. Make sure everyone you know votes, too.

Help get out the vote in your community. We Are Wisconsin has many field offices. Click here for opportunities in your area. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin also has quite a few field offices. Click here for the full list. Consider donating items to the recall offices if you don’t feel comfortable with canvassing and/or phone banking. Volunteering is hungry and thirty work. Snacks and beverages for the volunteers are always welcome.

We can get Walker out of office if we all pull together. We need to get Wisconsin back to its progressive roots. It’s not going to be easy and can’t be done overnight, but getting Walker out of office will be a step in the right direction.

Get out there and vote as if you mean it. Vote as if your life and democracy depend on it because they do. Let’s take our fine state FORWARD!!!

Walker Protested at VFW in Appleton

Yesterday the soon to be former governor visited the V.F.W. in Appleton to sign a bill that helps military veterans. Of course, he was met with a good sized “welcoming committee”. It’s heartwarming for this wonk to know that they could get a pretty good sized crowd together on such short notice. Some people in the group estimated there were between 40 and 45 protesters present. I’ll take their word on it as I didn’t do a head count.

According to the Appleton Post Crescent, about 100 veterans and supporters turned out to witness him signing the bill. Read the Post-Crescent article for more information on this bill.

Walker arrived in a car this time, not the usual black SUV. One protester stated that he’s the “100 meter dash governor”. That observation not only made me chuckle, it seemed to be a fair assessment of what we saw. Walker really moves fast when he’s trying to get away from protesters.

An important point to remember is that people were there to protest Walker and his failed policies. They were not there to protest military veterans, in fact, quite a few people thanked the veterans for their service.

From the Post-Crescent article:

“About 25 Walker protesters gathered on sidewalks, bearing posters and pins. They yelled “Shame, shame!” as Walker came and went.
However, many protesters said they support the veterans bills — several clapped and thanked the veterans who walked past them — but they just don’t back the governor.”

There are a couple of amusing anecdotes from the protest. One veteran who was attending the event told a protester something to the effect of “I’m here to hear what the c***sucker has to say for himself”.

Another incident involved a passerby trying to yell something at the protesters. Unfortunately his teeth fell out as he was speaking so he couldn’t finish his thought. This caused the group to break into spontaneous giggles. This laughter was captured in the video below. I didn’t personally see that happen, but did hear chanting turn into laughter. It’s not too often serious chanting turns into guffaws. I’m happy to have caught that moment. The protesters may never know for sure if he was a Walker supporter because he was “silenced” when his teeth fell out. In my humble opinion no one should be silenced because they lack denture adhesive.

Any day is a good day to protest Walker and yesterday was no exception. Here are some pictures from the event.

Domestic terrorist Francis Grady gasoline bombed a Wisconsin Planned Parenthood because “they’re killing babies there”

Update 04/05/12
“Do you even care at all about the 1,000 babies that died screaming?”
This is a statement Francis Grady made aloud to his court-appointed attorney yesterday in federal court in Green Bay.

Francis Grady wanted to plead guilty immediately to arson of a building used in interstate commerce and intentionally damaging a property used to provide reproductive health services. His court appointed attorney ignored him and scheduled a preliminary hearing.

Read more at Green Bay Press Gazzette where you can also learn that Mr. Grady says he’ll die if his neck brace is removed – even though he obviously didn’t die when he took it off himself in the court room.

Update 04/03/12:
“Following a report by a witness that a white, SUV type vehicle was seen leaving the Planned Parenthood area at the same time flames were also observed at the building, investigators were able to corroborate this information after viewing security video from the location,” Grand Chute Police Sgt. Greg Mohr said in a press release.
The vehicle, which had “distinctive markings,” was involved in a traffic accident near the clinic after the bomb was reported and had to be towed away. Using information collected from that traffic accident, the police were able to identify the driver, whose physical description “matched physical characteristics of a male subject observed on the security video provided by Planned Parenthood,” the press release said.
Police located the suspect on Sunday night and have detained him at Outagamie County Jail. They did not release details about his age or appearance and said no charges have been filed.”
source-Huffington Post

Domestic terrorism struck in Grand Chute, WI yesterday in the form of a small explosive devise placed on a window ledge of the Planned Parenthood located on North Gillette Street. The Appleton Post Crescent reported that the Planned Parenthood Clinic was damaged by a “homemade explosive device”. If this type of device was planted in another country, wouldn’t it have been called an I.E.D. (improvised explosive device)? NBC 26 has reported on this story as well. Their report states the following “Luckily, there was only a small amount of damage to the building.”

Business Insider did a longer and more in depth article. They did a great job of giving background information to the story. I recommend reading the full article if you have the time. Below is an excerpt from their piece:

“Like many states, the Wisconsin state legislature is embroiled in a culture war battle over women’s healthcare. State lawmakers are now debating several pieces of legislation pertaining to contraception and reproduction, including a bill that would require women seeking abortions to have a transvaginal ultrasound and one that would “emphasize nonmarital parenthood as a contributing factor to child abuse and neglect”in the state’s child abuse prevention campaigns.”

These reports are missing a much bigger issue than how much damage was done to the building. They left out the fact that this was an act of domestic terrorism. Planned Parenthood was lucky that the damage to the building was minimal and the bombers struck when no one was in the building. While I hope this was a one time event, who’s to say this won’t happen again with maybe a bigger bomb or at a time when the building is occupied?

Should Journalists Sign Recall Petitions?

I’ll be adding updates at the top of the post as this story progresses. – blue cheddar

Saturday’s #newsq: Ask Gannett, is signing a recall petition really more of a political statement than not signing it? fdlreporter.com/article/201203…

— NiemanWatchdog (@NiemanWatchdog) March 24, 2012

Today Genia Lovett from the Appleton Post-Crescent broke the news that “25 Gannett Wisconsin Media journalists, including nine at The P-C, also signed the Walker recall petitions”. She then goes on to explain in detail why signing a recall petition went against their code of ethics and focuses on six principles that she says directly deal with signing recall papers. The side bar of the article has the entire “Principles of Ethical Conduct for Newsrooms”. I’ve put it at the end of this post for easy reference.

First and foremost, the goal of this post isn’t to make a judgment call. People don’t need my thoughts on the issue and will come to their own conclusions. This article does leave me with a few questions. One, why was this piece published? Was there some outcry from the community? Two, why does the article specifically say “We are now in the process of addressing discipline and presenting supplemental ethics training for all news employees.” Does the public need to know about internal discipline and/or training? Three, do employers have the right to dictate how their employees participate in the constitutionally protected democratic process? I’m sure there will be a lot of discussion and debate on this topic in the near future. I, for one, will be watching this dialogue with great interest.

But I digress. All of that aside, do you, dear readers, feel that Gannett Wisconsin Media is following their ethical guidelines in other areas such as “be persistent in the pursuit of the whole story”? Now that the entire list of “Ethic Conduct” has been published, is anyone going to call them if it’s perceived they aren’t following each and every one of these item? Only time will tell.

Principles of Ethical Conduct for Newsrooms
WE ARE COMMITTED TO:
» Seeking and reporting the truth in a truthful way
» Serving the public interest
» Exercising fair play
» Maintaining independence
» Acting with integrity

Seeking and reporting the truth in a truthful way

We will dedicate ourselves to reporting the news accurately, thoroughly and in context.
We will be honest in the way we gather, report and present news.
We will be persistent in the pursuit of the whole story.
We will keep our word.
We will hold factual information in opinion columns and editorials to the same standards of accuracy as news stories.
We will seek to gain sufficient understanding of the communities, individuals and stories we cover to provide an informed account of activities.

Serving the public interest

We will uphold First Amendment principles to serve the democratic process.
We will be vigilant watchdogs of government and institutions that affect the public.
We will provide the news and information that people need to function as effective citizens.
We will seek solutions as well as expose problems and wrongdoing.
We will provide a public forum for diverse people and views.
We will reflect and encourage understanding of the diverse segments of our community.
We will provide editorial and community leadership.
We will seek to promote understanding of complexissues.

Exercising fair play

We will treat people with dignity, respect and compassion.
We will correct errors promptly.
We will strive to include all sides relevant to a story and not take sides in news coverage.
We will explain to readers our journalistic processes.
We will give particular attention to fairness in relations with people unaccustomed to dealing with the press.
We will use unnamed sources as the sole basis for published information only as a last resort and under specific procedures that best serve the public’s right to know.
We will be accessible to readers.

Maintaining independence

We will remain free of outside interests, investments or business relationships that may compromise the credibility of our news report.
We will maintain an impartial, arm’s length relationship with anyone seeking to influence the news.
We will avoid potential conflicts of interest and eliminate inappropriate influence on content.
We will be free of improper obligations to news sources, newsmakers and advertisers.
We will differentiate advertising from news.

Acting with integrity

We will act honorably and ethically in dealing with news sources, the public and our colleagues.
We will obey the law.
We will observe common standards of decency.
We will take responsibility for our decisions and consider the possible consequences of our actions.
We will be conscientious in observing these Principles.
We will always try to do the right thing.

Final Word on Appleton’s “Donutgate”

In what could be billed as the next “rule of thumb” similar to “Don’t take wooden nickels” or “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts”, poll workers in Appleton, WI now have “Don’t accept doughnuts from candidates” as reported today by the Appleton Post Crescent. Fox 11 news also covered this story stating “the great donut debate in Appleton is over”. Let’s hope they’re right about this. I’ve enjoyed the variety of doughnut related puns as the next person, but even that is getting a little stale.

To refresh everyone’s memories, last month Appleton Taxpayers United filed an ethics complaint against Cathy Spears for bringing doughnuts to poll workers during the February primary. For more on the story refer to my posts here and here. Cathy’s name was not on the ballot for the primary election last month, but will appear on the ballot next month for the general election.

City Attorney Jim Walsh states:
“We determined that there was no illegal activity, and there was no unethical activity,” Walsh said Thursday. “But because the state Government Accountability Board recommends only the clerk provide food, we suggested to the council we don’t do this anymore.”

Perry Bovee of Appleton Taxpayers United says they are happy with the ruling and won’t pursue the matter further. They also stated they never wanted Spears to be punished for this,  “We merely asked that this violation be noted and that this practice be stopped in all future elections.” This statement leaves me wondering. Is it a “violation” if nothing illegal or unethical was found? Why file an ethics complaint if you don’t want the person to be punished?

The Government Accountability Board has suggested that all food donations be “routed through the city clerk’s office, but Hesse said that could get hectic on already busy election days”. On the bright side, poll workers can still bring their own doughnuts with them on election day because nothing says “appreciation” like people supplying their own snacks.

City Attorney Jim Walsh is quoted as saying “If the city’s election workers could be convinced to alter performance of their official duties by the mere provision of a doughnut, the city has bigger issues than doughnuts,” and “I think it’s a big to do about nothing, I mean we’re not talking Chicago politics, we’re talking about donuts,. For the record, I agree.

Driving the Snakes out of Wisconsin

The video will start where the parade footage kicks in.

Almost everyone is familiar with how the original St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland, but how many people know that St. Patrick made a special visit to Fond du Lac last Saturday during their annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade? He came to “Drive the Snakes Out of Wisconsin” as part of a float entered by the grassroots group ACCESS (Area Concerned Citizens for Equality Strength and Success). Over 20 concerned, creative and highly motivated citizens took part in the float. A giant hat tip goes to Steve Hazell for his great video. It not only shows what happened at the parade, it shows some great footage from the protests last year at the capital. This video is another example of how creative, progressive people come from all over the state, not just Madison. It’s worth a watch or five.

Even though ACCESS is just starting out I anticipate they will be doing a lot of good things in their community.

Their mission statement is as follows:

The mission of ACCESS is to strengthen the community in order to be heard and hold elected officials accountable to the interests of working and middle class people. ACCESS promotes understanding through advocacy, education and public service.

Wisconsin News: Update on ACLU Voter ID lawsuit – Injunction + Demands to protect veteran and minority rights

“We can now demonstrate what we have always suspected—that strict photo ID laws have a more severe negative impact on black and Latino voters,” said Jon Sherman, an attorney with the ACLU Voting Rights Project. “The Voting Rights Act was created to combat exactly this type of barrier, and we intend to see it enforced in Wisconsin.”

The amended complaint charges the voter ID law:

*Violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which bans the use of voting practices that have a disparate negative impact on racial and language minorities. Research commissioned by the ACLU indicates the law has a disproportionate impact on Black and Latino voters, who are more likely to lack photo ID accepted for voting in Wisconsin.

*Arbitrarily prevents veterans who only have a Veterans Administration ID card from voting. Wisconsin deems such identification unacceptable.

*Violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because Wisconsin’s photo ID law results in the arbitrary treatment of voters trying to get a state ID card.

Keep reading at ACLU Wisconsin’s blog:
ACLU’s Federal Lawsuit Against Voter ID: Today’s Filing Asks for Injunction, Voting Rights Act Claim

Wisconsin News: U.S. Chamber of Commerce and WMC create “unprecedented” partnership against Tammy Baldwin

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its Wisconsin chapter – Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce – have entered into an “unprecedented” partnership, according to both bodies, over the race to fill the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Herb Kohl. The alliance has provoked a backlash from Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D., Wis.), who is running for Sen. Kohl’s seat, and has caused a stir with a few local chapters.

Two weeks ago, the U.S. Chamber ran a series of state-wide ads excoriating Rep. Baldwin’s record, part of its $10 million “Advance and Protect” campaign nationally promoting Republican House and Senate candidates. The Wisconsin ads said Ms. Baldwin supported “Obamacare,” and wants to raise taxes, thereby hurting job creation.

Other ads lauded the record of GOP Rep. Sean Duffy of Wisconsin, who is running for re-election. The ads said “Sponsored by the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. Paid for by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.”

Read more at Wall Street Journal online

Here’s one of the U.S. Chamber’s ads against Tammy Baldwin

Wisconsin News: Wisconsin’s Largest Cities Join Others Nationwide Urging Feds to Use Clean Air Act to Slow Global Warming

The operating assumption here is that the EPA and President Obama have the power to keep our air cleaner but they are choosing not to use it.

This is from a press release from The Center for Biological Diversity

MILWAUKEE, Wis.— Wisconsin’s two largest cities, Milwaukee and Madison, have joined cities in Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Washington in going on record urging the Environmental Protection Agency and President Barack Obama to move swiftly to use and enforce the Clean Air Act to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. In passing their resolutions, these cities join the Center for Biological Diversity’s national Clean Air Cities campaign.

“In Milwaukee we live on the shores of 20 percent of the world’s freshwater supply, so we know we have to do our part — along with other Great Lakes cities like Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo and Toronto — to preserve this precious resource. When it comes to clean air, we have to do our part along with every other city in the world to keep it breathable and to keep the climate it houses sustainable for human habitation,” said Milwaukee Alderman Nik Kovak, one of the sponsors of the Milwaukee resolution.

“To make our efforts at a more sustainable future effective, we need a strong partner in the federal government. Milwaukee is proud to join the growing chorus of American cities demanding that the EPA follow its own laws and the orders of the courts so that our grandchildren’s grandchildren can be as prosperous and populous as we are.”

“This year’s warm winter temperatures are a reminder that global warming is setting in and time is running out for us to make significant cuts in carbon pollution,” said Rose Braz, the Center’s climate campaign director. “Cities around the country know the Clean Air Act is our most important tool not only for slowing global warming, but also for protecting our communities from the devastating public-health impacts of other pollution.”

The Madison City Council unanimously approved a resolution spearheaded by Council Member Marsha Rummel urging action on global warming and in support of the Clean Air Act on Tuesday. The Milwaukee City Council approved a similar resolution on Feb. 7, 2012.

Similar resolutions have been approved in Seattle, Wash.; Albany, N.Y.; Tucson, Ariz.; Boone, N.C.; Pittsburgh, Penn.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Cambridge, Mass.; and Arcata, Richmond, Berkeley, Oxnard and Santa Monica, Calif. Several other cities around the country will also be considering resolutions over the next few months.

Learn more about the Center’s Clean Air Cities campaign and get the facts about the Clean Air Act.

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 320,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

Wisconsin News: Meet the Walker Recall Candidates – Kathleen Falk

This is a great interview of Kathleen Falk by Emily Mills at dane101:

There are perhaps few other names in Wisconsin politics that can conjure up equally strong support and opposition than that of Kathleen Falk.

The former Dane County Executive was the first out of the gate to declare her candidacy for governor the day after petitioners turned in some one million signatures to recall Gov. Scott Walker from office. Since then Falk has racked up a slew of endorsements, as well as attacks.

I had the chance to sit down for an interview with Falk on Monday, where she talked about why she decided to get into the race, the importance of her commitment to restoring collective bargaining rights, and that “Dane County Liberal” label so often thrown at her.

First and foremost, I wondered, when Falk announced in October 2010 that she would resign her position as Dane County Executive effective the following Spring, did she have any idea that she might go on to run for governor so soon after that?

Continue reading at dane101

Wisconsin News: Wisconsin leads Midwest in layoffs, unemployment

Any way you spin it, a down economy doesn’t help Scott Walker’s political image.

In this article Steve Naass’ spokesman Mikalsen says that you can blame recalls for this. Which Rep. Kelda Helen Roys calls ridiculous.

“Clearly, Walker’s failed economic policies are holding Wisconsin back,” Roys said. “It’s the pattern of abusive power, a culture of corruption and secrecy that has torn the state apart. And it certainly doesn’t explain why Wisconsin is the only state to have lost jobs every single month since this economic plan went into place,” Roys said.

Despite signs of recovery over the last year, Wisconsin is one of the leading states in layoffs and unemployment claims, according to the most recent federal statistics.

Only five other states — California, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida — had more layoffs than Wisconsin during January of this year, according to the a recent report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A separate statement by the bureau said Wisconsin leads the Midwest in terms of the most initial claims for unemployment. This January, 6,014 applications for unemployment were filed in Wisconsin, more than double the amount of claims filed in Minnesota and Iowa combined.

However, this is a 50 percent decrease from the 12,148 unemployment applications that were filed in January of last year. …

Read more at the Badger Herald

Wisconsin News: Legislator pushes to allow Veteran cards for voting

Veteran Gil Paar said, “If (my VA) card ain’t good enough to use then forget about it”.

I think that’s the point, actually. Some individuals benefit if more of us quit voting. Those individuals are usually called “Republican candidates”.

RACINE — A local veteran’s protest could lead to changes in what IDs poll workers accept under the state’s new voter ID law.
Mount Pleasant resident and Air Force veteran Gil Paar went to his polling place, Peace Lutheran Church, 1619 N. Newman Rd., Tuesday to vote in the primary election and when asked for ID he pulled out his U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs card. When poll workers said the photo ID wasn’t an acceptable form of identification Paar was mystified. They asked him to provide his driver’s license, but he refused. He left the church without voting.

Moments later Paar was on the phone with representatives for U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl and state Rep. Robert Turner of Racine describing what happened.
Paar, 69, said he was troubled to learn that the card, which he uses to receive his VA benefits, wasn’t acceptable.
So was Turner.

On Wednesday morning the Democrat announced he is introducing legislation to make sure U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs cards can be used to vote.

Read the rest at
Vet’s poll protest leads to proposed legislation – Rep. Turner asking that VA cards be acceptable for voting

Wisconsin News: 4 senators to travel to proposed mine site for Q & A Saturday

Saturday Feb. 25, 1PM – 4PM
Mine Bill Q&A with Four Wisconsin Senators

Location: Mellen School gym
Legislators: Sen. Bob Jauch (D-Poplar)
Sen. Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center)
Jim Holperin of Conover
Tim Cullen of Janesville

“Right now, there’s some hesitation about the mine. We just want a good bill and we’re just hopin’ and prayin’ that Bob Jauch and his people can get us that. You know, we’re afraid of the wrong bill. We want the protection. We want the revenue. When they shutdown the mining committee and all that, and they sent the Assembly bill back, I mean, we were really mad.”
– Mayor of Mellen, Joe Barabe

Map to Mellen, Wisconsin

To read more about the event see
Four Senators In Mellen Saturday For Meeting in the Ashland Current

Wisconsin News: Gasoline prices to rise sharply by weekend due to refinery fire

Wisconsin gas price alert: Prices likely to increase sharply

Chicago, IL February 22 (Press Release) – Motorists should be aware of the likelihood of a sharp rise in gasoline prices in the next few days and through the weekend in Wisconsin.

“I expect stations to increase prices as much as 5-20 cents per gallon by the conclusion of the weekend with some stations starting to raise prices immediately,” says Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst.

DeHaan warns that a refinery fire in Washington state is boosting prices significantly throughout the entire West Coast region, and rising spot prices in Great Lakes area is boosting prices 30-45 cents per gallon today in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Prices have also been reportedly rising fast in New England, Florida, and areas of the East Coast.

Gregg Laskoski, Petroleum Analyst also cites the refinery fire in Washington for an expected jump in California, saying “prices across the State of California already made significant advances in the prior seven days, and with the refinery fire, motorists should expect prices to rise in similar fashion as last February when the Libyan situation unfolded.”
source-WXOW