Scott Walker

Walker set to enter crowded GOP fieldMADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who is to enter the 2016 Republican presidential contest today, has a national profile largely due to his clashes with labor unions.He enacted policies weakening their political power and became the first governor in U.S. history to defeat a recall election. Now, on the eve of his campaign launch, Walker’s task is to remind Republican voters about the four-year-old fight and the recall election sparked by his efforts to weaken unions — and a series of lesser-known triumphs he says set him apart from the crowded Republican field.“If you could accomplish half of what he’s done in Wisconsin in Washington, D.C., you would go down as one of the greatest presidents ever,” said Walker’s top political adviser Rick Wiley.Walker cut income and corporate taxes by nearly $2 billion, lowered property taxes, legalized the carrying of concealed weapons, made abortions more difficult to obtain, required photo identification when voting and made Wisconsin a right-to-work state.

Gas prices down 2 cents past 2 weeksCAMARILLO, Calif. — The average price of gasoline has dropped 2 cents over the past two weeks to $2.83 a gallon.Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg says the decline comes amid lower crude oil prices.The average price for midgrade gas was $3.05, with premium going for $3.22.The cheapest price recorded in the continental United States was $2.42 a gallon in Jackson, Miss.The highest price was $3.66 a gallon in Los Angeles. Prices in California rose about 9 cents in the past 2 weeks and a continuing spike is expected this week.Analysts say a shortage in oil and other components used in refining California’s unique blend of less-polluting gas will push prices past $4 a gallon in some areas of the state before they ease again.

Air tankers briefly grounded by droneYUCAIPA, Calif. — Authorities briefly grounded air tankers that were fighting a wildfire in Southern California on Sunday after a drone flew close to the blaze.The planes fighting a 35-acre fire on the edge of the San Bernardino National Forest were grounded for about eight minutes until the drone left the area, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Carol Underhill said.“That may not seem like a huge amount of time, but in a fire emergency every minute counts,” Underhill said.It was the fourth time in the last month that a drone disrupted efforts to suppress a California wildfire.The Forest Service said a reconnaissance plane fighting a series of small wildfires in the Plumas National Forest in northeast California was grounded for about an hour and a half June 29 after a drone flew in the area. Two tanker planes dropping retardant on a large wildfire in San Bernardino County were briefly grounded June 24 and 25 when drones were spotted over the blaze.Firefighting aircraft often fly low in the same airspace as drones. When they spot a drone, fire officials ground the planes out of fear of a collision.