Attorney general: 9-11 gasoline gouging settled

A Leavenworth company that increased gasoline and diesel fuel prices at its northeast Kansas stations after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks has reached a settlement with the Kansas Attorney General’s Office.

Charles R. Wood Oil Co. Inc. agreed to pay $16,500 in penalties and fees for selling gasoline for more than $2.49 per gallon in the hours after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. It also will continue offering refunds to customers who purchased the fuel and gasoline.

“This agreement with Wood Oil, along with the settlements reached with other price-gouging gasoline stations, should be the final chapter in the unconscionable actions taken by some retailers,” Atty. Gen. Carla Stovall said Tuesday.

The 22 Wood Oil stations included in the settlement are in Atchison, Concordia, Fort Scott, Iola, Junction City, Lansing, Lawrence, Leavenworth, Lenexa, Olathe, Ottawa, Roeland Park and Wamego.

In the hours after the Sept. 11 attacks, some stations raised prices to as much as $5 per gallon.

Schools: Early-registration deadline nearing for bus program

Monday is the early-registration deadline for the Lawrence school district’s pay-to-ride bus program.

After that, the semester fee will increase by $10, and the full-year fee will go up by $20.

Children eligible for student transportation include elementary students who live 1.5 miles or more from school, junior high students who live two or more miles from school and senior high students who live 2.5 miles or more from school.

Any student who lives 2.5 miles or more from school is not required to pay for transportation.

Early-registration fees are $60 per semester or $120 per year for kindergarten one-way transportation and $120 per semester or $240 for per year for first- through 12th-grade round-trip transportation.

Payments by check, money order or credit card will be accepted until Aug. 15 for the 2002-03 school year at Laidlaw Transit, 1548 E. 23rd St., Suite C, Lawrence 66046. Laidlaw can be contacted by phone at 841-3594.

ECO2: Commissioner seeks details on development proposal

A task force’s push to boost sales taxes to finance development of business parks and preservation of open space needs more detail before it gets on the ballot, a Douglas County commissioner said Tuesday.

Commissioner Bob Johnson told members of the ECO2 task force that he wouldn’t support the 10-year, $22 million effort without a clear plan for spending the proceeds from a possible 1/4-cent increase in sales taxes.

After two years of hard work, he said, the ECO2 effort needs focus.

“It’s too out there,” Johnson said. “I wouldn’t buy into it. You need to do something to cause the average voter to buy into this initiative.”

Gasoline Prices: Pump Patrol seeks best deal

The Journal-World has found a gasoline price as low as $1.30 at several stations.

If you find a lower price, call us at 832-7154. Be prepared to leave the name and address of the business and the price.