Lead Stories:
- In his State of the State speech, Governor Newsom indicated there could be a gas tax rebate in California. The average price for a gallon of gas in the state is the nation's highest at $5.44, according to AAA — which is likely to increase as President Joe Biden announced a ban on Russian oil imports on Tuesday in response to the country's invasion of Ukraine.
- The parent-group "Reopen California Schools" is seeking legal action to "unmask" the real reasoning behind mask mandates in California's public schools. Many parents across California are questioning why mask mandates remain in place for many public schoolchildren, even as the state's mandatory mask mandate is being lifted.
- Stocks were down on Monday as investors were increasingly concerned about the rising cost of energy as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continued.