Prices at many of the gas stations in the area jumped Thursday to just short of $5 a gallon. Regular unleaded at this Amoco station on Iron Mountain’s north side has gone up by 45 cents a gallon in a week’s time; it was not alone in this level of increase. For more on steps being taken to try to address the gasoline situation nationwide, see the Columns section. (Betsy Bloom/Daily News photo)