Houston's new “crash tax,” and more

Houston's new “crash tax”

Drivers in a cash-strapped suburb of Houston will soon be charged a “crash tax” if they get into an accident. The new fee will range from $500 to $2,000, depending on the severity of the accident, and will be used to cover the cost of sending police, paramedics, and fire trucks to the scene. “Don’t we pay them to do that already?” asked local motorist Meredith Johnson.

Lawmaker tries to ban gun-control legislation

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A Missouri lawmaker wants to make it a crime for any fellow representative to introduce gun-control legislation. Republican state Rep. Mike Leara’s bill would make it a felony to propose any law that would “further restrict the right of an individual to bear arms.” Leara concedes his bill won’t pass, but says it’s “a matter of principle.”