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California tests gas tax alternative

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California tests gas tax alternative


California is trialing alternatives to the gas tax in a bid to raise highway funding, which has been severely depleted by the popularity of electric cars.

The state currently taxes drivers on the gasoline they buy, with Californians on average paying about $300 a year.

This critical gas tax is used to support road maintenance and other transportation projects, with approximately 80 percent of highway and road repairs being funded by it, according to the California Department of Transportation.

Meanwhile, electric car owners pay an annual tax for road repairs, but this comes to about a third of the average gas tax, according to Caltrans’ Road Charge Program.

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“What’s happening right now as we see this growth in different types of vehicles… we’re seeing this increasing unfairness in what people are paying,” Lauren Prehoda, manager of the program, told the Los Angeles Times.

The new pilot program will pay Californian drivers of any vehicle type up to $400 to test alternative options for six months starting in August.

It aims to switch from taxing drivers based on fuel consumption to taxing them based on how many miles they drive.

The program will test two alternative taxes, either a flat per-mile rate or an individual rate based on a vehicle’s fuel efficiency, Prehoda told the Times.

The new pilot is the fourth of its kind, as the state continues to try to adapt to the rising numbers of electric cars on the roads.

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Tesla cars sit parked in a lot at the Tesla factory on April 20, 2022 in Fremont, California. California is testing alternatives to the gas tax amid a surge in electric vehicles.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Drivers in California bought a record number of new electric cars in 2023, a total of 446,961, which was a 29% increase from the previous year, according to nonprofit Veloz and the California Energy Commission.

The state will also ban the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles from 2035 in an effort to reduce impact on climate change.

The new pilot, which is seeking about 800 participants, will focus on testing the collection process and how reliable and fair it is, Prehoda said.

Californian drivers who are interested in joining the pilot scheme are encouraged to sign up online.

People will be told if they have been selected for the scheme in July, and will be asked to register online and select a method for reporting their miles.

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Prehoda told the outlet that there will be three different ways to report miles.

“Some are very low tech, some have a location-sharing aspect. It’s up to you to choose what you do,” she said.

She encourages people to sign up to help improve the tax system, and in turn help improve California’s roads.

“This is your opportunity to figure this out together with us; to solve an issue that the state of California has,” Prehoda said, per the Times. “We all need good roads to get around.”

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More SoCal rallies for and against military action in Iran expected on Sunday and Monday

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More SoCal rallies for and against military action in Iran expected on Sunday and Monday


LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Worshippers across Los Angeles were met with an increased law enforcement presence on Sunday as police and sheriff’s deputies stepped up patrols outside mosques, synagogues and cultural landmarks following the strikes on Iran.

Local officials said there are no credible threats to Southern California, but the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department heightened visibility as a precaution to ensure communities stay safe.

More demonstrations tied to the attack on Iran are expected Sunday and Monday. Several protests were held across Southern California on Saturday.

READ MORE | Rallies for and against military action in Iran draw demonstrators across Southern California

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While Iranian-Americans celebrated in Westwood, protesters gathered in downtown Los Angeles to oppose the Trump administration’s attacks against Iran.

While some groups gathered in downtown Los Angeles to protest the strikes, others assembled in Westwood to celebrate “the fall of the Ayotollah,” according to organizers.

Authorities said they will continue monitoring events as the region prepares for additional gatherings in the days ahead.

This is a developing story. This article will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.

Copyright © 2026 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.

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San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan officially announce run for California governor

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San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan officially announce run for California governor




San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan officially announce run for California governor – CBS San Francisco

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San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has officially entered the 2026 California gubernatorial race.

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Six planets to align in “planetary parade” above California. Here’s how to see it.

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Six planets to align in “planetary parade” above California. Here’s how to see it.


A rare celestial event will be taking place in the sky above California on Saturday night, as six planets are expected to be visible in what is being called a “planetary parade.”

Look towards the western horizon 30-60 minutes after sunset. Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn will all be lined up along an arc, visible to the naked eye creating a literal parade of planets.

The alignment only occurs every few years, with the next one not until 2028.

Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are frequently seen in the night sky, but the addition of Venus and Mercury make this planet lineup particularly noteworthy.

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In the San Francisco Bay Area, there will be some cloud coverage Saturday evening, but it should be in the high levels of the atmosphere so hopefully the horizon remains clear. In Los Angeles and San Diego, the forecast is expected to be clear.

Meanwhile, the planetary parade may not be visible in the northern part of the state, with cloudy conditions expected Saturday night in Sacramento, and possible showers and thunderstorms in Eureka and Redding.

People with telescopes and binoculars will also be able to see Uranus and Neptune as well.

For amateur astronomers, this also would be a fun time to test out your telescope skills by checking out Jupiter’s many moons or Saturn’s rings.

Please note that if your view is obscured by buildings, trees or hills, you won’t see the parade because it will appear very low on the horizon.

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The nontechnical term is Parade of Planets, but the technical term is planetary alignment. Basically, it’s just the name for what happens when the planets and sun line up in the sky, these happen during events called oppositions and conjunctions.

Opposition is the term for when a planet is directly opposite the Earth from the Sun. Meanwhile, conjunction is when they are aligned with each other and is when we get the best views of the planets. 



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