Declarations

Drone Ban

“That shows how progressive we are. The whole nation is aware of the importance of implementing a drone policy.”

—Augusta, Ga., Commission member Bill Lockett on the city’s recent ban on drones over city gatherings. Augusta signed the ban into law March 30 for drone flights over areas where 100 or more people are gathered or could gather. It was passed in time for the one of the nation’s largest sporting events – The Masters golf championship – held annually in April in Augusta.

Uninsured State Vehicles

“In essence we’re driving uninsured cars.”

—Illinois state Rep. Bill Mitchell, a Republican, says the state is not paying on claims resulting from collisions with state-owned vehicles. Mitchell has called for pulling state-owned vehicles off the road until the Legislature sets aside money for settlements. There are around 225 claims worth about $615,000 on hold, according to the Department of Central Management Services.

Fortified Model Home

“Last year, we had nearly 800 tornadoes, hailstorms and high windstorms, which caused millions and millions of dollars in damage. We simply cannot keep rebuilding communities in the same places in the same ways and expect a different result.”

—Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak in a statement announcing that the first Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) FORTIFIED Home utilizing its high wind and hail standards will be built in Tulsa in the coming months. Tulsa Partners and the Tulsa Habitat for Humanity are involved in the project.

Donor Disfigurement

“We don’t want people to stop donating. This lawsuit is about informed consent.”

—Las Vegas attorney Gregory Coyer represents the daughters of Judith Bennet, who say their mother’s corpse was disfigured by an organ donor procedure. Coyer has argued that they were misled about the procedure.

Clear Guidelines

“When someone gets a tooth out and only needs medication for three days, why are they sent home from the doctor’s office with 30 Percocet?”

—U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said in describing how some medical providers are over-prescribing opioids for acute pain. Gillibrand has introduced a bill that would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue clear guidelines to safely prescribe opioids for common types of acute pain.