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(LOS ANGELES) — Analysts are warning motorists in California to hold on to their wallets as a host of factors will take already record-high gas prices to new levels.

The state averaged $4.742 a gallon on Tuesday, about $1.20 more than the national average, according to AAA. Some counties, including San Francisco, are averaging over $4.90, according to AAA.

Patrick De Haan, the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, which tracks gas prices across the nation, told ABC News that the statewide average is likely to cross the $5 a gallon average threshold soon.

“Everyone is going up the same but no one is going to match California’s prices,” he said.

De Haan said there were several factors, the biggest being the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The political uncertainty over a possible invasion has affected oil prices globally, De Haan noted.

“We are subject to international supply and demand,” he said. “How long it progresses through the summer depends on Russia.”

California’s regulations have also affected prices, specifically its gas tax of 51.1 cents per gallon, according to De Haan. The tax, which pays for road repairs and maintenance throughout the state, is one of the largest in the nation, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators, and has gone up with inflation.

“The taxes make a huge difference in the overall price. That’s why you haven’t seen as big of a jump in Oregon or Washington,” he said.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed to halt a scheduled gas tax increase, but has not received support from Democratic members of the state legislature, the Associated Press reported.

De Haan said that spring is around the time that gas prices tend to go up and there is very little that motorists who drive in California can do to avoid taking a financial hit at the pump.

He did offer one suggestion that could help drivers cut down their trips to the gas station: slow down. De Haan said that a car’s mileage grows when a driver maintains their speed as much as possible.

“Slowing down a couple of miles per hour [and] not racing light to light can easily save you 10 to 15% in every tank,” De Haan said.

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(NEW YORK) — Should Russia invade Ukraine, it could have multiple effects on the U.S. economy.

Energy prices could skyrocket, the cost of food may rise even more and inflation could be made even worse.

ABC News’ Rebecca Jarvis appeared on Good Morning America Tuesday to explain where Americans could see the biggest impact:

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(NEW YORK) — In addition to honoring presidents of the past, Presidents Day, celebrated this year on Monday, Feb. 21, is also marked by deep discounts.

It is one of the best times to save on bedding and mattresses, and there are tons of other shopping options to explore during the long weekend.

While online price tracking tools like Honey and Camel Camel Camel can help you track the best deals, here’s a roundup of some of the best discounts and sales happening now:

Adidas
Adidas is offering 30% off sitewide with the code: SCORE

Amazon
Amazon has released tons of Presidents Day deals, one being discounted price on several versions of Apple AirPods.

Back Country
You can score up to 50% off all of the winter clothes, gear and accessories with Back Country’s end-of-season sale.

Bed Bath & Beyond
Bed Bath & Beyond is offering up to 50% off on sales and clearance through Presidents Day.

Bloomingdales
Save up to 50% off on Bloomingdale’s clearance items.

Coach Outlet
From bags to other accessories, the Coach Outlet is offering clearance across the board.

GAP
GAP is running a Spring prep event offering up to 40% off.

J.Crew
J.Crew is offering 50% off select women’s sale sweaters and shoes with the code SALETIME.

J.C. Penney
J.C. Penney has a major sale from now through the weekend.

Old Navy
Score up to 60% sitewide and in-store through the holiday weekend.

shopDisney
shopDisney is running a Spring savings event through Monday offering 30% off toys, clothing, home and more with the code: save30.

Sur La Table
Save up to 50% on cookware, kitchen tools, bakeware and more.

Walmart
Walmart is offering major discounts on everything from tech to clothing during its Presidents Day sale.

Wayfair
Score up to 70% in saving during Wayfair’s biggest sale since Black Friday.

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(NEW YORK) — Many college students returned to in-person learning this past fall and for some sophomores, it was their first time on campus since the pandemic began.

This situation is concerning for groups like It’s On Us, an organization dedicated to preventing sexual assaults on college campuses and providing support for assault survivors.

“We have students who are academically sophomores, but socially and culturally freshmen coming to campus. When campuses reopened for the first time to in-person living and learning since March 2020 without strict COVID restrictions, we saw a surge of sexual assaults take place,” Tracey Vitchers, the executive director of It’s On Us, told Good Morning America.

According to It’s On Us, one in four college women will be sexually assaulted during their time on campus and for students of color, with disabilities, undocumented or those who identify as LGBTQ+, those rates are higher.

To help combat the surge and prevent future assaults, It’s On Us partnered with social media app Snapchat to bring awareness to a new feature on the platform called Live Location.

“The new Live Location sharing feature with Snap Map will allow parties to both opt in to sharing their Live Location with one another. If you have an Android, your friend has an iPhone, you’re going to be able to share your Live Location with them through the Snap Map.”

It’s a feature former Dance Moms star and college student Nia Sioux and her mother, Dr. Holly Hatcher-Frazier, are helping to test out for It’s On Us.

“As a parent, it’s comforting to know that there is a tool out there. So for me, it’s just knowing that she can determine when she turns it on, when she turns it off, who has access to it,” Hatcher-Frazier told GMA.

Sioux added: “You have to be friends with that person. You’re not just sharing your location with just anyone. … It’s been really comforting to know that there are these apps that are actually taking action and doing their part in helping making sure that everyone’s safe.”

Aside from its partnership with Snapchat, It’s On Us is also working with the online dating app Tinder to launch what they call the first “online dating safety and sexual assault awareness peer to peer prevention program nationwide.”

According to Vitchers: “This online dating safety peer to peer program is really critical because we found in conversations with students that traditional sexual assault prevention lessons that were being given by their school were not covering online dating safety, when that is really the future of how most young people are meeting and engaging with each other in a dating or other romantic way.”

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(NEW YORK) — Spring and St. Patrick’s Day are around the corner, which means it’s almost McDonald’s Shamrock Shake and Oreo Shamrock McFlurry season.

The iconic creamy, frozen treats will officially return to McDonald’s menus on Feb. 21 for a limited time.

The Shamrock Shake is made with vanilla soft serve ice cream, blended with McDonald’s proprietary “Shamrock Shake flavor” and finished with whipped topping. The McFlurry version that made its debut in 2020, combines vanilla soft serve spun with Oreo cookie pieces.

“The only thing more refreshing than the delicious taste of a Shamrock Shake is the way that minty green hue makes the ‘will-winter-ever-end’ blues go away,” McDonald’s wrote in a press release.

In over 50 years of the Shamrock Shake’s existence, McDonald’s has “never given away the secret ingredient” of its shake’s color. So this year, the brand dropped it’s official “hex code for the unmistakably minty color of Shamrock SZN.”

“When the Shamrock Shake and Oreo Shamrock McFlurry make their return to U.S. menus later this month, show us how you’re celebrating with #cbf2ac and #ShamrockShakeSZN,” the brand encouraged die-hard fans of the dessert. “Starting Feb. 21, our Shamrock green hex code just might unlock another tasty secret. That is, if you know where to look. Be one of the first to figure out the mystery and you could get a little something special from us.”

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(NEW YORK) — Tesla CEO Elon Musk accused the Securities and Exchange Commission Thursday of harassment and of withholding $40 million to Tesla shareholders, adding to long-running tensions between the billionaire and the nation’s top corporate regulator.

Tesla and the SEC settled an enforcement action in 2018 that alleged a series of Musk’s tweets about a potential buyout of Tesla amounted to fraud. Musk personally paid $20 million and Tesla paid an additional $20 million.

In a letter to the judge, Musk’s attorney Alex Spiro said the SEC has not given the money to shareholders as promised. He accused the government regulator of conduct that “has gone beyond the pale” and sought a “course correction” from the court.

“Simply stated, the SEC has failed to comply with its promise to pay Tesla’s shareholders the $40 million it collected as part of the settlement and purports to be holding for them. Instead, it has been devoting its formidable resources to endless, unfounded investigations into Mr. Musk and Tesla,” the letter said.

The Wall Street Journal reported the SEC twice informed Tesla that Musk’s use of Twitter was violating terms of the settlement that required him to seek approval before posting.

Earlier this month, the SEC subpoenaed Tesla over Musk’s Twitter habits, seeking “information on our governance processes around compliance” with the settlement.

In the letter, Spiro said that amounted to “harassment” of his client that should have ended when the settlement took effect.

“Mr. Musk and Tesla understood that settling with the SEC would at last end the SEC’s harassment and, importantly, make this Court, and not the SEC alone, the monitor over any perceived compliance issues going forward. But the SEC has broken its promises. Without coming before this Court, it has been weaponizing the consent decree by using it to try to muzzle and harass Mr. Musk and Tesla, while ignoring its Court-ordered duty to remit $40 million that it continues to hold while Tesla’s shareholders continue to wait,” the letter said.

The SEC has yet to respond to the letter.

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(NEW YORK) — When Temidayo Adedokun became pregnant with her first child, like many new moms, she said she was excited to start shopping for baby clothes.

Adedokun, 31, who was born in Nigeria and then moved to Canada at 4, said she wanted to find baby clothes with traditional African prints that she grew up wearing. But when she searched, she said she found nothing.

“I was super surprised that I couldn’t find affordably priced African aesthetic products that were designed from an authentic place,” Adedokun said. “And I really thought that was an important thing that a lot of people would want for their children as well.”

Adedokun said she then decided to make her own version of the clothes she was searching for her future son.

“At first, it was okay, let’s see what I can do to kind of create it for myself,” Adedokun said. “For my son, I created these onesies that had animal prints on them and put them on a website to see what happened. And there was enough feedback there that I thought, ‘Okay, I think people do care about this.”’

Adedokun said she figured she would make the baby clothes a side hustle to her full-time position as an attorney at an Oakland law firm.

Then at the onset of the pandemic. she received a call telling her she had been placed on furlough at the law firm, she said.

That’s when she said she decided to start her own company.

“I had to evaluate: What, am I going to try and go search for another job that I don’t have a lot of passion for? Or am I going to take this as a chance to risk everything and kind of bet on myself,” Adedokun said. “I choose the latter.”

And so she launched her company Ade + Ayo. The first part of the name, Ade, comes from her last name and means “crown” in the Yoruba language. The second part, Ayo, comes from her first name and means “joy” in Yoruba — a theme in her family with all of her siblings also having “ayo” in their names as well.

“I really wanted to touch on the theme of pride,” Adedokun said. “One of my goals with the brand is to help children grow up with pride with their heritage … and that children are the pride and joy of their parents’ lives.”

Since the company was founded in 2020, Adedokun said she has gotten feedback from parents saying its allowed them to show their children their heritage, but also — for parents who aren’t of African descent — they say the clothes have helped them teach their children about a new culture, she said.

“It’s really allowing the parents to start having conversations about being open to different things, and about learning,” Adedokun said. “On my product listings on the website, I go into quite a bit of detail about prints’ names, and the inspiration for the design, what region it comes from, and so people can kind of take that and start having conversations with their kids about what they’re wearing.”

Adedokun said that she sees the original inspiration for the company when her son wears the Nigerian-themed clothing.

“We also are very proud people like it’s important to us to be proud of what we do, and the work that we do, and the ways that we affect lives around us,” Adedokun said. “Knowing that I was going to be raising a Black boy in America, I thought it was important for him to have something you could come back to and know that he was worthy … that he could be proud of.”

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(WASHINGTON) — With fears of a Russian attack on Ukraine remaining a “distinct possibility,” President Joe Biden is sending a stark warning to Americans about what he says could be very real economic consequences at home — especially at the gas pump.

“I will not pretend this will be painless,” Biden said Tuesday while preparing Americans to be prepared for higher energy prices in the U.S. if Russian President Vladimir Putin decides to attack Ukraine and the Biden administration in turn puts its “powerful” sanctions in place.

The average price of a gallon of gas reached $3.51 on Wednesday, according to AAA, up roughly a dollar from a year ago and the highest level since October 2014. And in just the last month, prices in more than a dozen states have jumped 25 cents.

Russia is the second largest oil producer in the world, and if it invades and U.S. sanctions then keep its oil from the world market or make it more expensive, and ABC News Chief Business Correspondent Rebecca Jarvis reports some analysts predict prices at the pump in the U.S. could jump as much as 50 cents.

Pres. Biden says Russian invasion of Ukraine could impact energy prices.

“I will not pretend this will be painless…We’re preparing to deploy all the tools and authority at our disposal to provide relief at the gas pump.” https://t.co/D9IPWPkiUh pic.twitter.com/OzJrnsBQx4

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) February 15, 2022

Polls show Biden already is being blamed for higher gas prices as part of the worst inflation in nearly 40 years — more than 7% last year — and it’s a big political problem for him and Democrats ahead of November’s midterm elections.

ABC News’ Chief White House Correspondent Cecilia Vega pressed the White House on what Americans should be ready for.

“Worst case scenario, what should they expect if this happens,” Vega asked White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Tuesday.

“If Russia decides to invade, there could be consequences here at home, and that could have an impact on energy prices, which could have an impact on prices at the gas pump,” Psaki said.

“He also wanted to be very clear and direct with the American people about what the impact could be and the fact that in his view, defending democracy and liberty is never without costs, but we need to convey to the American people exactly what that could look like.”

Psaki said “all options are on the table” to help bring down the price of gasoline and President Biden has been trying to get ahead of a major impact by shoring up supplies with allies and energy producers.

“We are taking active steps to alleviate the pressure on our own energy markets and offset rising prices,” said Biden.

Several Democratic senators have introduced legislation to temporarily suspend the 18.5 cents per gallon federal gas tax for the remainder of the year to help bring the price at the pump down.

The White House has not taken a position on the proposal.

In January, senior administration officials said they had been working with countries in North Africa, Asia, Europe and Asia to “ensure the continuity of supply” and lessen the price shock that comes with a shortage.

President Biden discussed global energy supplies with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud on Feb. 9 and when he hosted Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani at the White House on Jan. 31.

Despite the outreach and calls to pump more oil, Saudi Arabia has decided to abide by a five-year-old deal between OPEC+ countries and will not increase its production to full capacity, according to The Wall Street Journal.

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(NEW YORK) — Alaska Airlines announced its first-ever subscription-based offering, Flight Pass, which offers travelers with varying budgets and lifestyles a chance to travel along many West Coast routes for a year.

The program, launched Wednesday offering members up to 24 roundtrip flights a year to the most popular routes within California, including nonstop service from California airports to select Nevada and Arizona destinations for a fixed monthly rate.

There are two annual plans for Flight Pass subscribers to choose from based on the best value or most flexibility; the key difference is in the length of the required advanced booking time.

The first plan starts at $49 per month and Flight Pass Pro starts at $199 per month but allows for booking as early as 90 days in advance as well as same-day booking up to two hours before departure.

✈️🎟 NEW! Ready to choose your own travel adventure within California, Nevada or Arizona? With an Alaska Flight Pass subscription, you’ll land frequent, flexible flights for one flat fee. It’s your ticket to more tickets! Get started: https://t.co/iuSq6pqRSl pic.twitter.com/gfSWdxJacf

— Alaska Airlines (@AlaskaAir) February 16, 2022

Alaska Airlines called its flight subscription plan an opportunity for travelers to “lock in main cabin deals for a full year” offering subscribers “lower than average fares on eligible flights.”

“After two years of staying close to home, guests are ready to travel again and with 100 daily flights from 16 airports throughout California and between California to Reno, Phoenix and Las Vegas, Flight Pass will take them there,” Alex Corey, managing director of business development and products for Alaska Airlines, said in a statement.

According to the airline, travel trend reports show that “most Americans are planning domestic travel in 2022, particularly to warm-weather and beach destinations, and some are even more willing to be spontaneous and flexible on future trips.”

How to use Flight Pass

1. Sign up and create an account at www.flightpass.alaskaair.com.
2. Pick a preferred plan: The best value Flight Pass, which requires booking at least 14 days before travel; or the most flexible Flight Pass Pro, which allows same-day booking.
3. Choose the number of roundtrips you would like annually: 6, 12 or 24 roundtrip flights.
4. Redeem your credits and book your trip on an eligible flight.
5. Choose from 100 daily flights connecting 13 California airports to each other and to Reno, Phoenix, and Vegas.
6. Enjoy your flight.

Neil Thwaites, regional vice president of California for Alaska Airlines, said the company is “uniquely positioned to help our West Coast guests experience more with direct access to destinations near and far from our expanding hubs.”

Flight Pass subscribers can also earn miles toward Mileage Plan elite status.

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(NEW YORK) — Fans will soon be able to call Disney home.

On Wednesday, the company announced the launch of Storyliving by Disney, a new community for Disney fans to live in that incorporates the company’s brand of magic.

“These master-planned communities are intended to inspire residents to foster new friendships, pursue their interests and write the next exciting chapter in their lives — all while enjoying the attention to detail, unique amenities and special touches that are Disney hallmarks,” Disney said in a press release.

Disney Imagineers will develop the community’s concept while working with developers and homebuilders. Storyliving communities will also include a club membership so that residents can access curated experiences, such as wellness programming, and entertainment, such as live performances, cooking classes, seminars and more. Some neighborhoods will also be for residents ages 55 and up.

Disney’s first Storyliving location, Cotino, will be in Rancho Mirage, California, which is located in California’s Coachella Valley. This location is special to the company because it was once a retreat for Walt Disney and his wife, Lillian.

Cotino will also pay tribute to the history and rich, present-day culture of the Coachella Valley.

“Story is at the heart of everything we do and we love bringing authentic places to life to immerse you into those stories,” Michael Hundgen, executive producer of Walt Disney Imagineering, said in a statement. “We dive deep into the history and the culture of the place itself and we’re really inspired by its surroundings.”

Cotino, which will have private homes and a hotel, will surround a 24-acre grand crystalline turquoise lagoon. It will also have a clubhouse and feature Disney programming, entertainment and activities throughout the year.

To see if Storytelling by Disney is coming to your neck of the woods, visit Storylivingbydisney.com, to learn more.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News and Good Morning America.

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