Georgia Governor Extends Gas Tax Suspension Again
Georgia Governor Extends Gas Tax Suspension
Georgia drivers will continue to get a break at the gas pumps for a little longer. Governor Brian Kemp signed an executive order this morning extending the state’s gas tax suspension through November 29. The current suspension was supposed to end November 12.
Gas Tax Suspension
Kemp issued a State of Emergency in September due to uncertain economic conditions and rising gas prices. The governor is allowed to suspend the collection of taxes during an emergency, provided state lawmakers approve it the next time they meet. The next session will be November 29, when lawmakers are scheduled to redraw the state’s congressional and state legislative districts.
By temporarily suspending the state gas tax, Kemp said drivers will save 31.2 cents per gallon on gas and 35 cents per gallon for diesel fuel. He said that should help Georgians with high food and travel costs through the Thanksgiving holiday.
Georgia Has Some of the Cheapest Fuel Prices in the Country
Georgia’s state average gas price today is $2.89 a gallon, 51 cents below the national average. The state average price in South Carolina today is $3.19 a gallon. With the suspension of taxes in Georgia, Kemp said the state has some of the lowest gas prices in the country.
“I’m proud this action has helped keep millions of dollars in hardworking Georgians’ pockets and look forward to continuing to see that impact with the Thanksgiving holiday approaching. I’m also grateful for the partnership of the General Assembly as it prepares to enter a special session where legislators will be called on to ratify this measure,” said Kemp.
State officials say the state can afford to give Georgians the tax break. The state currently has $16 billion in its reserve funds.
Kemp and lawmakers rolled back the gas taxes for 10 months in 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic. That cost the state an estimated $1.7 billion in revenue from March 2022 to January 2023. Kemp started waiving the gas tax again in September this year
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Vintage Gadgets: Outdated Tech That Still Sparks Joy
Best Buy has announced that starting in 2024, following this holiday season, they will discontinue the sale of DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K Ultra HD discs, both in their physical stores and online. They have said the reason for this decision is due to the increasing popularity of streaming services. This move aligns with the prevailing trend, as more people turn to streaming for their entertainment needs.
Physical Media
Physical media does come with certain inconveniences, such as taking up space and limited mobile accessibility. But there are still people who appreciate the more traditional way of enjoying movies and music. There are some advantages of owning Blu-rays and DVDs. These include owning what you buy and having bonus content you can’t get anywhere else.
Pagers!
In the ’90s, owning a pager was considered a status symbol and a fashion statement. Today, it’s even possible to purchase a fully functional vintage Motorola pager from online marketplaces like eBay.
Outdated but not obsolete.
With the widespread use of mobile phones and free calling applications that offer unlimited calls via Wi-Fi, traditional landlines may eventually become obsolete. However, the complete phasing out of this technology may take some time. This is because certain regions or countries still contend with unreliable internet or cellular coverage. As of August 2023, Community Phone reports that approximately 40.35 million households in the United States still maintain landline phones, and 38.1 million households have both a landline and a cell phone.
For some people, “new” technology doesn’t always mean “better.” On Reddit, a user started a discussion thread asking, “What outdated or obsolete tech are you still using and are perfectly happy with?” The thread received more than 16,000 responses from people who shared the outdated everyday items they still happily use. Check some of them out below.
Mary Liz is the News Director and Co-Host of Augusta’s Morning News on WGAC. She spent 11 years as a News Director at an Indiana Radio Station. She has also worked as a former Police and Courts Reporter for The Republic Newspaper and Assistant Marketing Director of Merchants National Bank in Indianapolis. Mary Liz focuses most on local breaking news stories, feature stories on upcoming events, or community-service related organizations and the people who serve them. She has been with WGAC since 1995.