Declarations

Montana Microcosm

“What we are seeing in Montana is a reflection of what is happening around the world. Temperatures are increasing.”

—Montana State University researcher Fabian Menalled said widespread infestation of wheat crops by pests in 2014 could be linked to climate change.

It Works in Nashville

“If it can work in Nashville, if it can work in Charlotte, then it can work in Montgomery and Mobile, and all of these other major cities.”

—Montgomery, Ala., Mayor Todd Strange on Uber and other ridesharing companies. Strange and Hunstville Mayor Tommy Battle want ordinance changes to allow the app-based ridesharing services to launch operations in their cities. Mobile passed such regulations in mid-June and Uber is now operating there. However, Birmingham and the college towns of Auburn and Tuscaloosa tightened restrictions, resulting in Uber’s decision to leave those areas.

Dangerous Drivers

“We will not tolerate drivers who repeatedly put others in danger.”

—New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that since September 2012, the Department of Motor Vehicles has permanently denied relicensing for 3,942 individuals because they have either: at least five alcohol/drug-related driving convictions in their lifetime; or three or four alcohol/drug-related driving convictions in the past 25 years, plus at least one other serious driving offense.

Unrecoverable Assets

“The actual assets/funds derived from this scheme were depleted and are, therefore, largely unrecoverable.”

—Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Chase writes in a court document that North Dakota farmers, Aaron and Derek Johnson, who were convicted of federal crop insurance fraud and ordered to repay $900,000 for intentionally destroying potatoes, spent all the money and made no restitution in the case. The government is seeking proceeds from an auction sale of the Johnson’s property.

Voices and Votes

“Initially it was about health and safety and protecting our neighborhoods, and those continue to be our goals, but it’s now also about democracy and supporting people’s voices and their votes.”

—Adam Briggle of the Frack Free Denton movement on a push to repeal Texas House Bill 40 that bars local ordinances that prevent fracking and other oil and natural gas activities unless they are deemed commercially reasonable.