Biden's proposed gas tax holiday, Afghanistan earthquake, Westminster Dog Show: 5 things to know Wednesday

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President Biden to propose three-month federal gas tax holiday

President Joe Biden will ask Congress on Wednesday to suspend the federal gas tax for the next three months in one of his administration's most aggressive and controversial efforts to give Americans immediate relief as gas prices soar above $5 a gallon in many states. The president also plans to call on states and local governments to temporarily suspend their gas taxes, according to senior administration officials who discussed the push on the condition of anonymity ahead of a 2 p.m. ET speech when Biden will formally make his case. A three-month federal gas tax holiday would suspend a tax of 18.4 cents per gallon of gas and 24.4 cents for diesel that drivers pay when they fill their tanks. The pause would require congressional approval. The policy, however, has plenty of critics. Many economists argue a pause in the federal gas tax could drive up inflation once the holiday ends, deplete transportation funds and only reduce a fraction of the overall historic spike in gas prices.

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Afghanistan earthquake kills at least 1,000 people, injures 1,500, authorities say

An earthquake rocked eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing at least 1,000 people, injuring 1,500 more and destroying 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 near the Pakistani border was likely to rise. Hundreds of homes and other buildings were destroyed, he said. The quake, centered 25 miles southwest of Khost, struck at about 1:24 a.m. local time, when many people were sleeping in their homes. The European seismological agency estimated the earthquake’s tremors were felt over 300 miles by 119 million people across Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. Photos from the scene showed rubble and ruins, with some evacuations from the remote area underway via helicopter. "People are digging grave after grave," said Mohammad Amin Huzaifa, head of the Information and Culture Department in Paktika province.

NFL Commissioner Goodell will testify before House committee hearing on 'toxic workplace culture' at Commanders

The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform will conduct a hearing Wednesday to "examine the toxic workplace culture at the (National Football League's) Washington Commanders, including allegations of sexual harassment, spanning multiple decades." NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will testify virtually, a league spokesman said. But a lawyer representing Commanders owner Daniel Snyder told the committee Snyder will not take part for several reasons, including a lack of assurance about the scope of questioning given the existence of multiple ongoing investigations and a scheduling conflict preventing Snyder from appearing in person. Congress launched a probe into the team's workplace culture after an independent review overseen by the NFL prompted a $10 million fine, but did not include a written report to be released to the public. Complicating matters, new details involving a 2009 sexual assault allegation against Snyder came to light via The Washington Post on the eve of the hearing Tuesday night.

Yellowstone National Park to partially reopen after destructive flooding

Yellowstone National Park authorities plan to reopen parts of the historic attraction to the public Wednesday, after last week’s devastating floods forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 people, according to park officials. Unprecedented rainfall that started June 12 triggered rockslides, mudslides and heavy flooding throughout the world’s first national park, inflicting damage that could take years and more than $1 billion to repair. Starting Wednesday, visitors will be allowed to enter the park’s south loop area at 8 a.m. and odd-numbered last digits on license plates can enter on odd days of the month; even-numbered last digits, including zero, on license plates can enter on even days of the month, according to a release.

Best in Show: We'll find out who is the top dog tonight

More than 3,000 canines of all shapes and sizes and their handlers have been vying for bragging rights this week at the 146th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, and Wednesday night features the show's grand finale: the Best in Show competition (7:30 p.m. ET, FS1). The Best in Show winner will be selected from the winners of seven breed groups: Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding. (Last year's winner was Wasabi, a small but mighty Pekingese.) Due to COVID-19, the show is being held outdoors for the second year in a row at the Lyndhurst Estate in Tarrytown, New York, instead of its traditional home at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden's gas tax holiday, Aghanistan earthquake, Yellowstone: 5 things to know Wednesday