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Higher gas tax proposed: We know no one wants to pay more at the pump, but who’s going to pay for building and keeping up all those roads we use? A state lawmaker has proposed increasing the gas tax by 10 cents. We imagine most of you are saying good luck with that one.

And speaking of gas prices: The average price of a gallon in our state is $3.65, say the AAA auto folks. That’s an 8 cent jump in a week, but here’s something new: It’s 10 cents lower than the national average. We’re often way over that. Some of the numbers around the state: Bellingham $3.81, Bremerton $3.67, Seattle-Bellevue-Everett $3.73, Tacoma $3.72, Olympia $3.75, Vancouver $3.65, Yakima $3.47, Tri-Cities $3.37, Spokane $3.32.

Your retirement situation may suck: Not only are people having to work longer to make enough money to retire, it’s estimated that more than 50 percent of folks over 30 will not be as prepared for retirement as their parents were. There are a whole bunch of reasons. Do you think you’ll be prepared financially when it comes time for you to retire? Take our poll.

Boeing workers to count ballots today on contract vote: The union representing Boeing engineers and tech workers plans to count ballots today on Boeing’s latest contract proposal, but union leaders have already recommended rejecting it, saying among other things that a provision that new workers would get a 401(k) plan instead of a more conventional pension is a no-go. How long have they been working on this?

Hey, no rain expected today! Well, the chart up there says no rain. Let’s see about that.

Most-read stories on seattletimes.com:

1. Misstep in gun bill could defeat the effort | Danny Westneat
2. In pursuit of 200 pounds, Nick Franklin takes on 6,500-calorie-per-day diet | Mariners
3. Lake Burien: the public lake you can’t use
4. Glimpse of gaming future: Bungie’s ‘Destiny’ | Brier Dudley
5. Most future retirees to be worse off than parents

Memo light: Candorville | Darrin Bell

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Nick Provenza: 206-464-2142 or nprovenza@seattletimes.com