Police shoot man near Capitol

Washington – A man police fatally shot in a chaotic scene near the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday fired at them and did not obey commands to put down his weapon, authorities said.

U.S. Capitol Police spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Schneider said the unidentified 35-year-old man sped away in a white car after a routine traffic stop a few blocks from the Capitol. The man drove the wrong way down a street and ultimately crashed into a police cruiser in a heavily guarded area about a block north of the Capitol grounds, striking two officers with his car along the way, she said.

The suspect began shooting at several Capitol Police officers and police returned fire.

Pot tax could raise $1.4 billion

San Francisco – A bill to tax and regulate marijuana in California like alcohol would generate nearly $1.4 billion in revenue for the cash-strapped state, according to an official analysis released Wednesday by tax officials.

The State Board of Equalization report estimates marijuana retail sales would bring $990 million from a $50-per-ounce fee and $392 million in sales taxes.

The bill introduced by Democratic Assemblyman Tom Ammiano in February would allow adults 21 and older to legally possess, grow and sell marijuana.

Ammiano has promoted the bill as a way to help bridge the state’s $26.3 billion budget shortfall.