CNN 2012-03-22

 The end of winter brought a huge snow storm to one US state but probably not a state you associate with snow.That story's coming up.I am Carl Azuz,this is cnn student news.First up,voters are casting ballots 1 in Illinois today.As that state hold its Republican presidential primary.A lot of experts are describing this is a showdown between former Massachusetts governor Mitt 2 Romney,the front runner,and former Rick Santorum.Governor Romeny just enjoyed the win in Puerto Rico in Sunday.He got more than 80% of the votes in the primary there so he won all the Puerto Rico's 20 delegates.The are 54 delegates up for grabs in Illinois today and it takes 1144 delegates to win the Republican presidential nomination 3.Here's how things stack up right now.

 
The latest estimates from CNN show Governor Romney with 519 delegates.Senator Santorum has 239,former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has 138 and CNN estimates US Representative Ron Paul has 69 delegates.
 
One thing all the candidates including the President have been talking recently,gas prices.If you or your parents drive,you know they are on the way up.The national average price for a gallon of gasoline has been rising everyday for more than a week now.It's current 3 dollars and 84 cents,that the average.It's actually more expensive in some places and cheaper in others,because of the cost of oil,taxes and distribution.The record price was $4.11 in July 2008.Rick Vincent,now shows us how gas prices are fueling political fire.
 
Prices are the pump climbed steadily,beginning March 9th,after a few day of slide declines.They rose in the back of soaring oil prices.President Obama put a spotlight 4 on the issue in his weekly.He outlined his energy policy and knocked Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich for campaigning on a promise of 250 ($2.50) gas.
 
It's easy to promise a quick fix when it comes to gas prices.There just isn't the one.Anyone who tells you otherwise,any career politician who promises some three point plan for 2 dollar gas,they are not for solution they are just looking for your vote.
 
Campaigning over the weekend,Rick Santorum said high gas prices are leading to inflation and he says it's only going to get worse.
 
It's going to have a ripple 5 effect.If 4 dollars,and in some places,now 5 dollars a gallon gasoline and they are talking five dollars and may be even 6 dollars.
 
Right now,the highest price nationally is in Hawaii,at an average of $4.48 a gallon.
 
Mitt Romney said the President is not the right person to tackle such problems.
 
The president learned the economy by reading about it,not by living it.25 years in business,taught me how jobs come and how they go.
 
I'm Rick Vincent reporting.
 
Today's Shoutout goes out to Coach Streiffert's economics classes at Waccamaw High School in Pawleys Island,South Carolina. What is the state nickname of Arizona? Here we Go.Is it the Land of Enchantment,Desert State,Last Frontier or Grand Canyon 6 State?You`ve got three seconds,now go.
 
Arizona gets its nickname from its most famous natural feature,the Grand Canyon.That's your answer,and that's your Shoutout.
 
You might think of Arizona as the desert state.Its usually warm weather is a big draw for tourists,not this past weekend though.While people all over the central and eastern US were enjoying early spring temperatures.Parts of Arizona were dealing 7 with this,massive snowstorms.The city of Flagstaff got 10 to 14 inches of snow over the weekend.Officials were worried about dangerous driving conditions especially in some of the Arizona's mountain  regions.Around one hundred and eighty miles of one major inner state was shut down because of the weather.One resident talked about the major shift in temperature,saying"The other day it was 65 degrees,next day,it's snowing,it's crazy"