promoearn: Gas tax holiday hits speed bump

Wednesday, June 22

Gas prices at Casey's gas station in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, hover around $5 on June 17.

Skeptical Congress not quite committed to Biden's plan. It's Wednesday's news.

President Joe Biden proposed a tax holiday on fuel, but not everybody in Congress is ready to hit the gas. An earthquake rocked Afghanistan, leaving 1,000 dead and scores more injured. And we're looking at the maze of state abortion laws that would be triggered should Roe v. Wade be overturned.

👋 It's Laura Davis. It's Wednesday. I'm standing on one leg. Here's everything you need to know.

But first, how long can you stand on one leg? 🤷‍♀️ You're twice as likely to die in the next decade if you're currently unable to balance on one foot for 10 seconds, according to a new study. Read more, if you dare.

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Congress not quite ready to green-light Biden's gas tax holiday

As gas prices soar above $5 a gallon in many states, President Biden on Wednesday called on Congress to temporarily halt the federal tax on gas and asked states, which have their own taxes, to take similar action. But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats were skeptical and remained noncommittal, signaling Biden's proposal could be doomed out of the gate. The pause, which Biden envisions lasting through September, would require congressional approval. The White House billed the holiday as a way to provide some "breathing room" as it works to bring costs down over the long term. Read more about Biden's plan.

⛽️ News you can use: What are gas taxes and what do they pay for?

•	Pelosi doesn't commit: Biden's plan faces congressional skepticism.
•	Your wallet: How much would you really save with a gas tax holiday?

If Roe v. Wade is overturned, a maze of state abortion laws await

The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to force women seeking abortions to navigate a labyrinth of laws and restrictions ranging from near-outright bans in more than a dozen states to provisions in a few states not only guaranteeing access to abortion, but funding to pay for them. If a decision is made to eliminate federal abortion rights, within a year, as many as 75,000 women won't make it to a provider, according to one estimate, and would be forced to give birth instead. That would just be the start of the fallout from a ruling with implications that stretch far beyond reproductive health care, to encompass suppression of female participation in the workforce and the amplification of racial and economic inequities. Keep reading.

•	Furor over Roe v. Wade reversal likely won't rescue Dems in midterms.
•	SCOTUS justices don't have an ethics code. Judges say that's a problem.
•	Opinion: My mom had an abortion almost 50 years ago. My family is finally talking about her decision.

Demonstrators rally during the 'Bans off our Bodies' abortion rights rally in New York City on Saturday, May 14, 2022.

Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY

What everyone's talking about

•	'AGT' judge Simon Cowell stunned by 'phenomenal' pole dance act.
•	Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jaylon Ferguson dies at 26.
•	Goodbye, "aroni": Kraft Macaroni and Cheese is changing its name.
•	GLAAD study: 70% of LGBTQ Americans experience discrimination.
•	Chilling video shows man holding baby fend off gunman at gas station.
•	'Friends will snitch': Search on for teens who partied in $8 million mansion.

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At least 1,000 killed in Afghanistan earthquake

An earthquake rocked eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing at least 1,000 people, injuring 1,500 more and destroying homes and other buildings in the rugged, mountainous region. Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada told the state-run Bakhtar News Agency the death toll from the magnitude 5.9 temblor was likely to rise. Hundreds of homes and other buildings were destroyed, he said. The quake struck at 1:24 a.m. local time, when many were sleeping, and was felt more than 300 miles by 119 million people across Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. "People are digging grave after grave," said Mohammad Amin Huzaifa, head of the Information and Culture Department in Paktika. Read more + see a map of the earthquake.

•	📸 Gallery: Evacuations, destruction seen after Afghanistan earthquake.

In this photo released by the state-run news agency Bakhtar, Afghans look at destruction caused by an earthquake in the province of Paktika, eastern Afghanistan, Wednesday, June 22, 2022.

Pilots picket as airline unions leverage summer travel woes

Hundreds of uniformed Southwest Airlines pilots stood in perfect lines in the scorching Texas sun at Dallas Love Field on Tuesday, holding signs that blamed Southwest management for delays and cancellations that have upset passengers. The protest, which the union said drew up to 1,300 pilots, was the latest example of airline workers trying to put pressure on companies by taking their demands for higher pay directly to the flying public. Keep reading to learn more about the pilots' plight.

•	Flight delays, cancellations keep piling up. What's going on?
•	Record number of people expected to take road trips for Fourth of July weekend.

Southwest Airlines pilots picket outside the terminal at Dallas Love Field on June 21, 2022, in Dallas.

David Koenig

Real quick

•	Polio is back: Virus detected in London sewage samples.
•	Uvalde City Council denies school police chief's leave of absence request.
•	Getting closer: Senate gun bill includes more background checks.
•	3 hurt when plane catches on fire in Miami after landing gear collapses.
•	Feds arrest ex-Fla. gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum and adviser.
•	3 Yellowstone entrances open after damage from extreme flooding.
•	Ukraine claims 'significant losses' to Russia in airstrike attack on Snake Island. Wednesday's updates.

Will NFL owner Daniel Snyder be subpoenaed?

It's looking like it. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell testified before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday as part of an investigation into the alleged toxic workplace environment within the Washington Commanders organization. At the center of the investigation is team owner Daniel Snyder, who has been accused of inappropriate workplace conduct. Committee Chairwoman Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., announced her intent to subpoena Snyder to appear before the committee for a deposition next week. Snyder, through his attorney, declined to testify, indicating that he was out of the country because of a "longstanding Commanders-related business conflict." Here are the key moments from Wednesday's hearing.

•	Details emerge of sexual assault allegation against Commanders owner.
•	Members of Congress ask NFL for documents, information from Washington football probe.

Roger Goodell virtually testifies to the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

A break from the news

•	🏖 Epic photos showcase vision for a floating water city in the Maldives.
•	🏡 Make your house a home: What you need to buy when you move.
•	🙇 Seasonal depression isn't just for winter. Summer can trigger a mood disorder too. Spend 30-something summers in Florida and you'll know this to be true.

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