This week, several viewers e-mailed us with the concerns of rising gas prices, where some stations raised prices as much as a dime overnight. Right now, the state average is about $2.61 for a gallon of gas.

News 3 checked out a few local stations to find out what's causing drivers to dig deeper into their pockets.

William Hampton says 1.64 gallons of gas was all he could squeeze out of $4. Hampton says he noticed the price of gas steadily going up.

"You used to pay $20 to $25 to fill up your tank," said Hampton."Now it's 40 dollars."

The owner of a local gas station took a break from filling up to explain what's driving up the price of gas.

"The storm going to the Gulf made the price go up a little bit last week," said Drew Congleton, gas station owner. "This week they may be going back down again, because the storm is going to move into Mexico.

"The way gas prices are high now, I have to call different stores to find prices, " said Mario Moncevais, truck driver.

Moncevais criss crosses the state for work. He keeps a close eye on his costs.

"It's a smaller town, here in Bryan," said Moncevais. "The prices are almost the same as the bigger cities, like Houston."

"The gas prices have gone up a little bit over the last couple of weeks, maybe some markets by a nickel or 7 cents, said Dan Ronan, AAA - Texas.

AAA says the days are long gone where gas prices would go up by a few cents. Nickels and dimes are the new pennies. So, some customers are deciding to cut out of some life's luxuries.

"I have to take my mom back and forth to the doctor a lot," said Tina Workman. She says she had to do without going to beauty salon to be sure she could get from point A to point B.

Workman says no matter what gas costs today, she's hopeful for change.

"God always makes a way," she said.

AAA says they don't expect gas prices to go up for the upcoming holiday weekend.