Out of Gas in Arizona

For the past two nights the overnight temperatures in Tucson have been at record-breaking lows -- last night was as cold as it's been since the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral days, 15 degrees.

Water pipes burst all over town, but even worse, the gas-pipeline distribution system in south Texas, New Mexico and southern Arizona has been unable to keep up with a surge in demand since Wednesday. Whole sections of Tucson have been without gas heat for days -- at a time when the annual Gem Show is in full swing and all of the hotels are full.

The Loews Ventana Canyon resort, among others, is full right now of very unhappy campers. 400 guests are huddled around without heat. Even hotel kitchens are shut down, as least for cooking.

Oddly, the national media have entirely missed this interesting story. Well, not so oddly, actually.

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