HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Everyone loves a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, too often our air is anything but fresh.

The year was 1966. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which carries passengers from Palm Springs up to the San Jacinto Mountains nearly 6,000 feet above, had opened a few years prior to great fanfare.

A fire at one Northern California refinery responsible for 10% of the state’s gasoline production has resulted in higher gas ...