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Millions in California could get up to $800 in gas tax refunds to fight high fuel prices, governor proposes
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Even more states are considering ways to help fight high gas prices, including a proposal unveiled by California’s governor on Wednesday that would give vehicle owners in the state up to $800 as a refund for gas taxes.
Last week Georgia and Maryland both passed bills to pause their state gas taxes of about 29 cents and 36 cents per gallon of regular gasoline, respectively.
And lawmakers in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Connecticut were among those to call this week for cutting or lowering gas taxes in response to fuel prices.
But California’s idea of sending cash to millions of vehicle owners is among the most aggressive proposals to be seriously considered in the nation. It comes less than a year after the state sent out millions of $600 stimulus checks to residents, prompted by a massive budget surplus.
In California, where gas prices are typically the highest in the nation, Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed that vehicle owners get $400 on a debit card per registered vehicle, up to two per person, totaling about $9 billion. All residents regardless of vehicle ownership would see free public transportation for three months, Newsom said. The plan needs to be approved by the state Legislature.
WATCH:Gas prices may affect your wallet beyond the gas pump
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“We’re taking immediate action to get money directly into the pockets of Californians who are facing higher gas prices as a direct result of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine,” Newsom said in a statement.
California drivers spend on average about $300 in gas taxes per year, Newsom’s office said.
But lawmakers in the state have disagreed on the best way to offset sky-high gas costs. Last week, a group of lawmakers proposed $400 in rebates for all taxpayers. Democratic lawmakers rejected a Republican-led proposal to suspend the state’s 51-cent gas tax, and a separate plan by Democratic leaders in the Assembly and Senate addressing rising costs of all goods would give $200 to taxpayers and dependents with an income cap of $250,000, according to The Los Angeles Times.
Debates about how best to address gas price hikes are going on in numerous states in an attempt to balance the benefit for consumers with the potential impact on infrastructure and other public services typically funded by state gas taxes.
Some argue that the price reduction consumers would see at the gas pump would be negligible compared to the total loss of funds to state resources, while others worry that gas and oil companies will keep the costs to consumers high anyway.
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Gas prices were already high earlier this year due to the increase of demand as COVID restrictions eased. They soared even higher after Russia invaded Ukraine and the U.S. banned oil imports from Russia. Gas is about $4.24 on average in the U.S. as of Wednesday, according to AAA. It peaked on March 11 at $4.33 per gallon of regular gas, breaking the previous record of $4.11 from 2008.
In Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last week called for a suspension of the state’s 6% sales tax on gas, but other lawmakers say the state’s flat gas tax of about 27 cents should be temporarily slashed instead.
“I think there’s a way to give people real relief and not see a deterioration of the roads; not see us having to disinvest in schools; and give people larger, actual relief now,” said Michigan Democratic Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich. His office told The Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, that he would introduce legislation to suspend the state sales tax on gas for a year.
Although the Democrats and Republicans have often tried different approaches, proposals to help consumers save at the pump have come from both parties.
“We cannot, and we will not, stand idle as motorists all across the Commonwealth are feeling pain at the gas pump, trying to purchase a staple that gets them to school, that gets them to medical appointments and that is absolutely essential to their everyday activities,” Massachusetts Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr said at a Wednesday press conference as part of a group of Republicans backing the measure to suspend the state’s gas tax of 24 cents per gallon.
Contributing: The Palm Springs Desert Sun; The Detroit Free Press
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Travel
Razzies royally torch 'Diana' musical and 'Space Jam 2,' show love to Oscar favorite Will Smith
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In its proclamation of the worst films of 2021, the Razzies lambasted a critically reviled Princess Diana musical and LeBron James’ “Space Jam” sequel, but spread love instead of hate for Will Smith.
The Golden Raspberry Awards, annually announced the day before the Academy Awards, bestowed five dishonors on Netflix’s “Diana: The Musical,” a filmed production of the recent Broadway show that closed after 33 performances. “Diana” beat out “Infinite,” “Karen,” “Space Jam: A New Legacy” and “The Woman in the Window” for worst picture, plus picked up worst screenplay and worst actress for star Jeanna de Waal.
“New Legacy,” the live-action/animated hybrid basketball comedy featuring James hooping it up with Bugs Bunny and Co., earned three Razzie awards. James was named worst actor and also was saddled with worst screen couple – which went to James and “Any Warner Cartoon Character (or WarnerMedia Product) He Dribbles On” – while the movie snagged worst sequel.
How to watch the 2022 Oscars:Everything you should know about Sunday’s Academy Awards
“House of Gucci” star Jared Leto lost his Screen Actors Guild race for best supporting actor but nabbed the Razzie for worst. And Bruce Willis does so many VOD movies now that he received his own special category (worst performance by Bruce Willis in a 2021 movie) that, to no one’s surprise, he won – for “Cosmic Sin.”
Smith, who’s expected to win the best actor Oscar Sunday for “King Richard,” received this year’s Razzie Redeemer Award for previous Razzie honorees who’ve come back with quality efforts. Recent winners include Ben Affleck, Sylvester Stallone, Melissa McCarthy and Eddie Murphy.
The full list of this year’s Razzie “winners”:
Worst picture: “Diana: The Musical”
Worst actor: LeBron James, “Space Jam: A New Legacy”
Worst actress: Jeanna de Waal, “Diana: The Musical”
Worst supporting actress: Judy Kaye, “Diana: The Musical”
Worst supporting actor: Jared Leto, “House of Gucci”
Worst performance by Bruce Willis in a 2021 movie: Bruce Willis, “Cosmic Sin”
Worst screen couple: LeBron James and Any Warner Cartoon Character
(or WarnerMedia Product) He Dribbles On, “Space Jam: A New Legacy”
Worst remake, rip-off or sequel: “Space Jam: A New Legacy”
Worst director: Christopher Ashley, “Diana: The Musical”
Worst screenplay: “Diana: The Musical”
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Business
As more marijuana dispensaries get targeted by robbers, SAFE Banking Act lingers in Congress
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A bill that could allow electronic transactions at weed dispensaries nationwide is again make its way through Congress but the SAFE Banking Act might not be the cure-all that supporters envision.
In over a decade of operating cannabis shops in Washington, Shea Hynes never once worried about his stores getting robbed at gun point – until recently: In a span of three weeks, his stores were robbed three different times at gun point.
Reports of armed robberies at cannabis dispensaries like Hynes’ have nearly doubled in the first quarter of this year compared with all of last year, according to data maintained by the Craft Cannabis Coalition. The group, which represents more than 50 stores in Washington, has recorded more than 65 armed robberies so far this year, compared with 35 in 2021 and 29 in 2020.
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CHICAGO — In a ridiculous coincidence, the Saint Peter’s Peacocks wrote NCAA Tournament history on National Peacock Day with a thrilling upset of Purdue.
The mid-major became the first-ever No. 15 seed to reach the Elite Eight, outdoing previous No. 15 seeds Oral Roberts (2021) and Florida Gulf Coast (2013). Exactly 0.8% of people picked the Peacocks to get this far, with the school from Jersey City, New Jersey, defying all odds. Is Saint Peter’s the best Cinderella of all time?
Meanwhile, the ACC is sitting pretty with three teams – Duke and now North Carolina and Miami (Fla.) – in the Elite Eight on the same day the Big Ten saw its last team go down.
A look at three key takeaways from Friday:
Saint Peter’s writes NCAA history
Coach Shaheen Holloway has this team playing inspired basketball, and now the Peacocks (22-11) are just one win from the Final Four. The best Cinderellas of the last two decades to reach Final Fours – George Mason in 2006, VCU in 2011, Loyola-Chicago (2018) all were double-digit seeded mid-majors. But none was as highly seeded as this Saint Peter’s team that’s now beaten No. 2 seed Kentucky, No. 7 Murray State and No. 3 Purdue.
WINNERS, LOSERS:Poised Saint Peter’s keeps the dream alive; bye-bye, Big Ten; hello, ACC
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ANALYSIS:Purdue’s loss leaves Big Ten shut out of Elite Eight. We could see this coming.
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While other bracket-busting NCAA Tournament darlings of yesteryear have had flair (FGCU’s “Dunk City”) or a lovable fan (Loyola’s Sister Jean), this team from the MAAC is doing it with defense, namely with nine steals. In spite of being undersized against the Boilermakers, the Peacocks used aggressiveness and hustle to outduel their seemingly superior opponent behind 6-8 freshman Clarence Rubert and 6-7 junior Hassan Drame. Daryl Banks III (14 points) is the go-to scorer for Saint Peter’s, but Mr. Clutch has been guard Doug Edert (10 points) off the bench. One stat to note: a 19-for-21 clip from the free-throw line. What’s been most impressive is the Peacocks’ ability to stay hungry and poised under pressure, winning close games in all three NCAA Tournament matchups.
Blue-bloods show title potential
Duke and Villanova advanced on Thursday, and fellow blue-bloods Kansas and North Carolina will now join them in the Elite Eight. And yes, if both the Blue Devils and Tar Heels win Sunday, we could see them meet in the Final Four.
Ever since North Carolina embarrassed Duke in coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final home game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Heels have been red-hot – knocking out No. 1 Baylor in the previous game in overtime. That continued against a UCLA team that reached the Final Four last year and seemed destined to get back. Caleb Love was brilliant again, finishing with 30 points off six three-pointers. Armando Bacot’s tip-in with 22 seconds left sealed the win in another impressive outing for coach Hubert Davis’ resilient team.
The last remaining No. 1 in the NCAA Tournament, Kansas stayed alive, escaping Providence by five points. It’s coach Bill Self’s ninth trip to the Elite Eight with Kansas and 11th of his career, as the Jayhawks (31-6) are one win from the Final Four. They’ve now won eight in a row and are looking like a title contender after entering the NCAA Tourney having won the Big 12 tournament.
The secret weapon for Kansas has been guard Remy Martin. For the third consecutive tournament game, Kansas got a jolt off the bench from the fiery Martin (23 points), the Arizona State transfer who has erupted in these NCAAs after playing a reserve role throughout 2021-22.
ACC > Big Ten
Despite garnering nine NCAA Tournament bids on Selection Sunday – the most of any conference – the Big Ten is out following Purdue’s stunning exit vs. Saint Peter’s. The league tanked in the first two rounds, with No. 5 Iowa – the conference tourney champ – getting upset by Richmond in the first round. No. 3 Wisconsin, No. 4 Illinois, No. 7 Michigan State and No. 7 Ohio State all lost in the second round. And now, with Michigan’s loss to Villanova, the overall underachievement is on full display. That’s a 9-9 finish in the tournament.
No Big Ten team has cut down the nets since 2000 (the Spartans), and it’s a depressing outlook for the league that posted the second-best NET score in 2021-22 and showcased several teams with Final Four potential.
The ACC, which finished with the sixth-worst NET score as a league, has Duke, North Carolina and Miami all in the Elite Eight. That’s after the Tar Heels, Hurricanes and Notre Dame were all bubble teams in early March. The NCAA Tournament is about matchups and pathways. No matter how well the Big Ten did in the regular season, much like the Pac-12’s surprising finish last year, the ACC is well-positioned with three teams still alive and two of them title contenders.
Follow college basketball reporter Scott Gleeson on Twitter @ScottMGleeson.
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