News Roundup 03/04/19
1. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Demo Flight
Early Saturday morning on Mar. 2, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon launched from Florida to connect to the Intl. Space Station, where it will reside for five days before returning later on this week. There were no passengers aboard the Crew Dragon, as of now the company has only sent satellites, cargo, and a Tesla sports car. This launch is the latest in a series of tests in order to get approval from NASA to transport people. The launch is also important for SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who plans to send people to space and eventually Mars. According to The New York Times, “A successful mission could put NASA and the United States on the cusp of a renewed era of human spaceflight.”
Source: New York Times, BBC
2. Spielberg Meddles with Netflix’s Eligibility for the Academy Awards
One of Hollywood’s biggest directors, Steven Spielberg, “intends to support rule changes that could block Netflix from Oscars-eligibility.” This topic has caught attention due to Netflix’s streaming of Alfonso Cuarón's “Roma,” which happened to win 3 Academy Awards during last week’s ceremony. In the past, Spielberg has questioned whether streaming services should compete for the prestigious awards. Netflix doesn’t “play by the same rules” as other studios by not releasing their theatrical grosses and causing problems with executives throughout award season. Spielberg and others in the movie making business, plan to do something about it by supporting a revised film academy regulation at the board of governors upcoming meeting to disqualify Netflix from the Academy or have them change the way they operate.
Source: Associated Press
3. PG&E Probably Caused Camp Fire
It has been three months since Camp Fire, the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history, was extinguished. Now Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) say it's "probable" that its equipment caused the fire that began on Nov. 8, 2018. The state is continuing the investigation into the company’s culpability and “expects the investigation will find that its damaged infrastructure sparked the fire.” Camp Fire has killed almost 90 people, destroyed an estimate of 14,000 structures, and has changed the lives of tens of thousands of people. Victims of the fire have sued the PG&E, accumulating two dozen lawsuits and now face billions of dollars in possible liabilities which has led them to file for bankruptcy at the beginning of the year.
Source: NPR
4. Luke Perry Dies at 52
Luke Perry died on Mar. 4 from complications from a stroke that occurred last week on Feb. 27. He was known for being the “bad-boy loner” from the 90s teen drama “Beverly Hills, 90210” and Archie’s father in the comic-based show “Riverdale.” Perry was surrounded by his parents, kids, and other family members when he passed away at Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, Calif. Many fans and celebrities took to social media to express their condolences and share memories of the late actor. One of Perry’s co-stars from “Beverly Hills, 90210” Ian Ziering tweeted: “Dearest Luke, I will forever bask in the loving memories we've shared over the last thirty years. May your journey forward be enriched by the magnificent souls who have passed before you, just like you have done here, for those you leave behind.”
Source: USA Today
5. Tornado Hits Southeastern Alabama
Early Sunday morning on Mar. 3, the state of Alabama was hit by an tornado. Officials are using drones to canvas the damaged areas for survivors and dozens of emergency responders rushed to join search and rescue efforts. Forecasters predicted the tornado was unleashed by a powerful storm that made its way to other southern states like Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. The tornado was categorized as an F3 tornado, meaning that wind speeds were between 158 to 206 mph. So far, 23 people have died from the natural disaster and many more have been injured.
Source: Associated Press