• FILE- In a Nov. 17, 2017 file photo, a supporter holds up a "Fake News" book while Kayla Moore, wife of U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore, speaks at a press conference in Montgomery, Ala. Would a story that seeks to unpack or drill down on a list of tiresome words and phrases be impactful or a nothingburger? Worse, would it just be tons of fake news? Well, dish all you want, but Northern Michigan's Lake Superior State University on Sunday released its 43rd annual List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness. Photo: Brynn Anderson, AP / Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Photo: Brynn Anderson, AP
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FILE- In a Nov. 17, 2017 file photo, a supporter holds up a "Fake News" book while Kayla Moore, wife of U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore, speaks at a press conference in Montgomery, Ala. Would a story that seeks to unpack or drill down on a list of tiresome words and phrases be impactful or a nothingburger? Worse, would it just be tons of fake news? Well, dish all you want, but Northern Michigan's Lake Superior State University on Sunday released its 43rd annual List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness. less
FILE- In a Nov. 17, 2017 file photo, a supporter holds up a "Fake News" book while Kayla Moore, wife of U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore, speaks at a press conference in Montgomery, Ala. Would a story that seeks ... more
Photo: Brynn Anderson, AP
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There's some big changes coming.

There's some big changes coming.

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Kiss the high school exit exam goodbye

Your high school exit exam is a thing of the past. AB830 officially eliminates the exit exam requirement in order to graduate high school. Another bill had temporarily eliminated the requirement for the graduating classes of 2016-18, and now the change is permanent for all future classes. 
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Kiss the high school exit exam goodbye

Your high school exit exam is a thing of the past. AB830 officially eliminates the exit exam requirement in order to graduate high school. Another bill had temporarily
... more
Photo: Connor Radnovich, The Chronicle
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You’re no longer a law-breaker for entering a crosswalk while it’s flashing

Although you probably didn’t realize it, you broke the law every time you entered a crosswalk when the countdown clock was flashing — even if you still had the right of way. You could previously receive a fine of up to $250 for doing so. Now, you’re free to enter the crosswalk at any time, as long as you finish crossing by the time the clock has counted down. Opponents of the rarely enforced law said it unfairly punished pedestrians, although CHP lobbied to keep the law intact. 
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You’re no longer a law-breaker for entering a crosswalk while it’s flashing

Although you probably didn’t realize it, you broke the law every time you entered a crosswalk when the countdown clock was
... more
Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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You’ll soon be wearing seat belts on some buses

Starting July 1, you’ll have to buckle up on commercial buses like Greyhound and Megabus. Both the driver and passengers are required to wear seat belts for safety; you’ll be fined $20 for the first offense and $50 for any subsequent busts. Tourist and public transit buses are not included in the law, so you won’t have to buckle up on Muni any time soon. 
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You’ll soon be wearing seat belts on some buses

Starting July 1, you’ll have to buckle up on commercial buses like Greyhound and Megabus. Both the driver and passengers are required to wear seat belts for
... more
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It’s no longer a felony to knowingly expose someone to HIV

Despite the uproar it caused, Gov. Brown signed SB239 into law in October, making knowingly exposing a sexual partner to HIV without first disclosing it a misdemeanor. Previously, HIV was the only communicable disease in the state that willful exposure constituted a felony. 

“California took a major step toward treating HIV as a public health issue, instead of treating people living with HIV as criminals,” San Francisco’s Scott Wiener said in October. “HIV should be treated like all other serious infectious diseases, and that’s what SB239 does.”
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It’s no longer a felony to knowingly expose someone to HIV

Despite the uproar it caused, Gov. Brown signed SB239 into law in October, making knowingly exposing a sexual partner to HIV without first disclosing
... more
Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle
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Recreational marijuana use is legal for adults 21 and older

The highest-profile law coming into effect in the state is undoubtedly marijuana legalization. Weed goes legal on Jan. 1, but don’t expect to run out and purchase it right away. Because retailers need state and local licenses to sell, many dispensaries won’t be open in time for Jan. 1. For everything you need to know about marijuana legalization, visit our cannabis hub GreenState. 
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Recreational marijuana use is legal for adults 21 and older

The highest-profile law coming into effect in the state is undoubtedly marijuana legalization. Weed goes legal on Jan. 1, but don’t expect to run out
... more
Photo: Sam Wolson / Sam Wolson / Special To The Chronicle 2015
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Hate crime perpetrators temporarily lose gun ownership rights

Thanks to the passage of the Disarm Hate Act, people convicted of a hate crime cannot possess a gun for 10 years. California state law defines a hate crime as interfering with a person’s “free exercise of any constitutional right or privilege because of the other person’s actual or perceived race, religion, national origin, disability, gender, or sexual orientation.”
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Hate crime perpetrators temporarily lose gun ownership rights

Thanks to the passage of the Disarm Hate Act, people convicted of a hate crime cannot possess a gun for 10 years. California state law defines a hate
... more
Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle
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Menstrual products are free for low-income students

Middle and high schools in areas where at least 40 percent of students are below the federal poverty line will now stock free pads and tampons in restrooms. It's hoped the law will encourage financially struggling girls to stay in school. 
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Menstrual products are free for low-income students

Middle and high schools in areas where at least 40 percent of students are below the federal poverty line will now stock free pads and tampons in restrooms.
... more
Photo: Mark Lennihan, AP
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"Ban-the-box" comes to workplaces everywhere

Starting in 2018, job applications will no longer have a check-box indicating the applicant has a criminal record. The hope of legislators is that applicants with more minor crimes like misdemeanors will not be unfairly discriminated against in the hiring process. Of course, employers can still perform routine background checks after an employment offer has been made or if the position legally requires a criminal background check. 
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"Ban-the-box" comes to workplaces everywhere

Starting in 2018, job applications will no longer have a check-box indicating the applicant has a criminal record. The hope of legislators is that applicants with
... more
Photo: Rob Daly/Getty Images
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The first year of community college is free 

The much-heralded Assembly Bill 19 makes the first year of community college free for first-time, full-time students. But the deal isn’t completely figured out yet; the money has to be set aside in the state budget. The funding for the bill is set to be settled by June. 
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The first year of community college is free 

The much-heralded Assembly Bill 19 makes the first year of community college free for first-time, full-time students. But the deal isn’t completely figured out
... more
Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle
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Employers can no longer ask about your prior salary

AB168 bars employers from inquiring about an applicant’s salary history or prior benefits, a law meant to prevent employers from using compensation as a determining factor in hiring a qualified applicant. Employers must also provide pay scale information upon request.
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Employers can no longer ask about your prior salary

AB168 bars employers from inquiring about an applicant’s salary history or prior benefits, a law meant to prevent employers from using compensation as a
... more
Photo: Getty Images
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Changes coming to how you can purchase ammunition

There are several changes coming if you purchase ammunition for your weapons in the state of California. If you buy it from a catalog, you’ll no longer be able to ship it directly to your home; ammunition will have to be sent to licensed vendors for pickup. Background checks for ammunition purchases go into effect in 2019. 
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Changes coming to how you can purchase ammunition

There are several changes coming if you purchase ammunition for your weapons in the state of California. If you buy it from a catalog, you’ll no longer be able
... more
Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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Young boat operators now need a license

Part of a provision in a bill that passed in 2014 goes into effect this year. Starting Jan. 1, all boaters 20 years of age and younger will be required to have a California Boater Card. In order to qualify for the card, applicants will need to take a state-approved safety course. Each year after 2018, a new age group will need to have the card. A full timetable is available here.
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Young boat operators now need a license

Part of a provision in a bill that passed in 2014 goes into effect this year. Starting Jan. 1, all boaters 20 years of age and younger will be required to have a
... more
Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, Associated Press
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Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave

The New Parent Leave Act stipulates that businesses with 20 or more employees are obligated to provide employees with up to 12 weeks of leave. The leave must be taken within a year of the child’s birth, adoption or foster care placement. 
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Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave

The New Parent Leave Act stipulates that businesses with 20 or more employees are obligated to provide employees with up to 12 weeks of leave. The leave must be taken within
... more
Photo: © Royalty-Free/Corbis
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Minimum wage goes up again

Businesses with 26 or more employees will now pay 50 cents more per hour in wages, increasing the minimum wage to $11 per hour. Businesses with fewer than 26 employees will see their minimum wage rise to $10.50 per hour. The change is part of a incremental increase outlined by SB 3 which raises the minimum wage until it hits $15 in 2022.
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Minimum wage goes up again

Businesses with 26 or more employees will now pay 50 cents more per hour in wages, increasing the minimum wage to $11 per hour. Businesses with fewer than 26 employees will see their
... more
Photo: Luis Sinco, LA Times Via Getty Images
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If you have a medical condition, you can “tint” your car windows

AB 1303 allows drivers with a dermatologist’s note to apply a “clear, colorless, and transparent film material” to their car windows to block out ultraviolet rays. But you’d better keep that note handy; if pulled over for a window infraction, you’ll need to show it to the officer.
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If you have a medical condition, you can “tint” your car windows

AB 1303 allows drivers with a dermatologist’s note to apply a “clear, colorless, and transparent film material” to their car windows to
... more
Photo: Car Culture, Inc./Getty Images/Car Culture
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California fights President Trump with several “sanctuary state” measures

In response to President Trump’s promises to deport undocumented immigrants, the state of California passed a few laws meant to counteract the president. SB54 prevents law enforcement from asking for someone’s immigration status, and they can’t detain them on a federal government hold unless they’ve committed a certain type of crime. 
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California fights President Trump with several “sanctuary state” measures

In response to President Trump’s promises to deport undocumented immigrants, the state of California passed a few laws meant to
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Photo: Evan Vucci, Associated Press
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In addition, AB 450 bars employers from allowing an immigration enforcement raid at the workplace unless there is a court order. To protect children of undocumented workers, one new law prohibits public schools from documenting the immigration status of their students and another allows them to continue attending California schools, even if their parents are deported. less
In addition, AB 450 bars employers from allowing an immigration enforcement raid at the workplace unless there is a court order. To protect children of undocumented workers, one new law prohibits public schools ... more
Photo: Charles Reed, Associated Press
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Hotels must post information about human trafficking

Assembly Bill 260 expands an existing law requiring certain businesses to post information about slavery and human trafficking to hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast inns. The poster includes information about what constitutes human trafficking and hotlines to get help for yourself or victims you may see. The full text can be found here. 
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Hotels must post information about human trafficking

Assembly Bill 260 expands an existing law requiring certain businesses to post information about slavery and human trafficking to hotels, motels, and bed and
... more
Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, Special To The Chronicle
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DETROIT (AP) — Let me ask you this: Would a story that unpacks a list of tiresome words and phrases be impactful or a nothingburger? Worse, could it just be fake news?

Northern Michigan's Lake Superior State University on Sunday released its 43rd annual List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness . The tongue-in-cheek, non-binding list of 14 words or phrases comes from thousands of suggestions to the Sault Ste. Marie school.

This year's list includes "let me ask you this," ''unpack," ''impactful," ''nothingburger," ''tons," ''dish," ''drill down," ''let that sink in," and the top vote-getter, "fake news."

The others are "pre-owned," ''onboarding/offboarding," ''gig economy" and the redundant "hot water heater." Also on the list is the Trumpian Twitter typo "covfefe."

While the list contains a little political flavor, Lake Superior State spokesman John Shibley said he had expected more given the highly divisive 2016 election and a year of deepening divisions in government and the U.S. electorate.

"It wasn't as focused on politics in a very dirty sense," he said. "Most of the nominations were well thought through ... considering how the year was."

As evidence, he points to "fake news," which garnered between 500 and 600 votes. The phrase has been leveled against entirely fabricated reporting, stories that contain errors or inaccuracies, and those with a critical tone. It has even been wielded as a cudgel against entire news networks. It was also found to be the second most annoying word or phrase used by Americans in an annual Marist College poll, behind "whatever."

"I think a lot of people know fake news when they see it. It can be propaganda, it can be satire," Shibley said. "It's used deliberately to paint a certain story or notion as not being true."

While some words are perennial nominees, others really speak to a particular time and may soon lose relevance. "Covfefe" — which was contained in a fragmented Tweet sent from President Donald Trump's account on May 31 — became shorthand for a social media mistake, Shibley said.

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President Trump on Saturday tweeted his reason for using social media.

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"It's the 'pet rock' of this year's list," Shibley said, referring to the fad product born and banished in the 1970s.

Lake Superior State and Marist have company in tracking and trumpeting mass word usage.

"Youthquake," defined as "a significant cultural, political, or social change arising from the actions or influence of young people," is Oxford Dictionaries' word of the year . Oxford lexicographers said there was a fivefold increase in use of the term — coined a half-century ago by then-Vogue editor Diana Vreeland — between 2016 and 2017. The word has been used to describe youth support for Britain's Labour Party and the election of 30-something leaders in France and New Zealand.

Merriam-Webster's 2017 word of the year is "feminism." Lookups increased 70 percent over 2016 on Merriam-Webster.com and spiked several times after key events, such as the Women's March on Washington in January.

Another Michigan school takes the opposite approach: Detroit's Wayne State University attempts through its Word Warriors campaign to exhume worthy words that have fallen out of favor. This year's list included "blithering," ''gauche" and "mugwump," which refers to a person who remains aloof or independent — especially from party politics.

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Follow Jeff Karoub on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jeffkaroub . Find more of his work at https://apnews.com/search/jeff%20karoub

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