Declarations

Article

Space Junk

“We’ve been concerned with having these large numbers of satellites that interfere with astronomical observations … I think we need a little more experience with the several thousand operating satellites before we can ramp up to the tens of thousands.”

— Harvard-Smithsonian astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, part of the American Astronomical Society panel examining the impacts of satellites on astronomy, said in regards to SpaceX’s plan to deploy about 30,000 satellites for its Starlink. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has raised concerns with the “potential for a significant increase in the frequency of conjunction events and possible impacts to NASA’s science and human spaceflight missions.”

Safety Violations in Tragic Fire

“These Black families who lost so much that seem to be marginalized not only before the tragic fire broke out, but even in the aftermath.”

— Benjamin Crump, a high-profile civil rights attorney based in Florida, and the New York law firm Weitz & Luxenberg, said as he spoke on behalf of several families whose loved ones died or were critically injured while trying to escape a Bronx apartment building. Five lawsuits have been filed against the building’s owners, which allege safety violations that led to the wrongful deaths of 17 people, including eight children.

Proof of Loss Deadline Nears

“Submitting detailed proof of loss is a key component of the claims process following a disaster.”

— Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon encouraged policyholders seeking to file proof of loss for damage due to Hurricane Ida to act before Feb. 25, when a 180-day deadline for most residential and commercial property insurance policies expires. State law requires that when a catastrophic event occurs and civil officials declare a state of disaster or emergency pursuant to law, property owners within the declaration area have less than 180 days from the date of the event to submit proof of loss to their insurer.

Fraternity Failure

“These are part of a pattern of unsafe and dangerous behavior that represents the traditions of the fraternity.”

— Attorney David Bianchi said on behalf of the parents of a Minnesota man who allege in a lawsuit that their son has been unresponsive and requires constant medical care since being forced to drink a bottle of vodka at a fraternity at the University of Missouri. According to the lawsuit, 19-year old Daniel Santulli was found in cardiac arrest and had a blood alcohol content of 0.486%, more than six times the legal limit for driving in Missouri. The lawsuit names the national Phi Gamma Delta organization and individual members of the Missouri chapter.

Camp Fire Research

“The problem with those two approaches is no two communities are the same and no two fires are the same, so the lessons are useful but they’re not 100% transferable.”

— Catrin Edgeley, a researcher, examined how the people of Paradise and the surrounding communities responded to the massive 2018 Camp Fire, and the lessons learned that could be applied to future fires.

Winds of Change in Georgia

“For the past 25 years, we’ve had Republican commissioners bought and paid for by the companies the office is supposed to regulate. The last elected commissioner was convicted of fraud and money laundering; his predecessor’s mismanagement forced hundreds of staff furloughs and layoffs; and the one before him is still under investigation for campaign finance corruption.”

— Georgia State Rep. Matthew Wilson, a trial attorney who is running for state insurance commissioner’s office this year. If elected, Wilson would be the first openly gay commissioner. His opponent is an insurance agent who would be the first black woman to hold the post, which is now occupied by the first Hispanic statewide office holder in Georgia. Wilson made his remarks in answer to a questionnaire sent by Ballotpedia.