Pump pain: Gas prices at all-time high for April - GUY KOVNER, Press Democrat

“I could use that on books,” said David Valdez of Santa Rosa, a Santa Rosa Junior College student who spent a mere $33.28 gassing up his Toyota Prius hybrid, which purred silently away from the Costco pumps. Pederson, who is commuting to construction jobs in the Bay Area, tracks his fuel expenses, which came to more than $6,000 — $500 to $550 a month — last year. Last month, he spent $700. “It hurts,” Pedersen said. “It hurts bad.”