Daniel Salzler No. 1118
EnviroInsight.org Six Items October 8, 2021
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Enhance your viewing by downloading the attached pdf file to view photos, etc.
The attached is all about improving life in the watershed.
Read this newsletter at EnviroInsight.org
1. New Arizona Laws Go Into Effect. The Governor signed a total of 445 bills into law, 403 of which passed with bipartisan support. A majority of these bills went into effect this week, on what is known as the “General Effective Day,” which comes 90 days after the legislative session adjourns.
Reinstatement of Some Suspended Driver’s Licenses
SB 1551 – Under the new law, people won’t lose their driver’s license if they do not pay civil traffic fines. In addition, those convicted for street racing or reckless driving will have their driver’s licenses suspended for one year, instead of getting it revoked.
Election Integrity
S.B. 1485 – One of the most significant pieces of legislation aimed at protecting the integrity of Arizona’s elections was S.B. 1485, which renames Permanent Early Voting List (PEVL) to Active Early Voting List (AEVL). Under this legislation, if a voter on the AEVL actively votes by mail, they will continue to receive an early ballot. If a voter on the AEVL does not return at least one early ballot over the course of four years (two consecutive primary elections and general elections, and any municipal elections that precede them) the voter will be sent a postcard asking if they still want to receive an early ballot.
Fines for Blocking Sidewalks
HB 2395 – It is now considered a crime to block or partially block a sidewalk with your car. Under the new law, drivers can be fined $250. The legislation is aimed at helping people who use a wheelchair.
Gun shops considered essential businesses
SB 1382 – Gun shops are now considered essential businesses. Any place that sells guns or ammunition can legally stay open during an emergency. The law also protects manufacturers, sellers and trade associations against frivolous lawsuits.
Community colleges to offer four-year degrees
SB 1453 – Community colleges can now offer four-year degrees for certain programs.
Sex Education – Sponsored by Representative Gail Griffin
H.B. 2035 – Codifies into law the curriculum transparency and parental notification measures included in Executive Order 2021-11, which Governor Ducey issued on April 20. The legislation provides parents with an opportunity to participate in, review, and provide input on any proposed sex education course of study before it is adopted. This legislation also prohibits sex education from occurring in kindergarten through fourth grades.
Broadband Bill – Sponsored by Representative Regina Cobb
H.B. 2596 – Allows private broadband providers to install, operate and maintain telecommunications equipment within the Arizona Department of Transportation’s (ADOT) rights-of-way. It also allows ADOT to grant access to its own broadband conduit to private telecommunications companies in a non-exclusive and non- discriminatory manner — reducing the cost of installing rural broadband infrastructure.
Early Literacy Initiative – Sponsored by Senator T.J. Shope
S.B. 1572 – Requires all schools to provide notification, intervention plans, and regular updates to parents of children who have an identified reading deficiency, so that they can work as a team to get kids on track. It also requires the State Board of Education to adopt a statewide kindergarten entry evaluation so that teachers will know where each student is starting out and have an important tool for targeting support.
Reforms to Military Family Relief Fund – Sponsored by Senator Sonny Borrelli
S.B. 1443 – Allows service members, who have established residency in Arizona, provide proof of continuous physical presence in Arizona for at least 12 months before applying and meet other statutory requirements, to be eligible for assistance from the Pre-9/11 and Post-9/11 Subaccounts.
Justice for Victims of Child Sexual Abuse – Sponsored by Senator Paul Boyer
S.B. 1660 – In 2019 Governor Ducey established the Justice for Victims of Child Sexual Abuse Task Force to provide recommendations to the state for further reforms to ensure victims are entitled to safety, healing, justice and estitution. One of these recommendations was S.B. 1660, which requires the Department of Child Safety (DCS) ensure a child who is eight years of age or older receives materials and resources about sexual abuse, child sex trafficking and exploitation within 30 days of placement in out-of-home care. It further outlines requirements and guidelines for the materials and resources about sexual abuse, child sex trafficking and exploitation.
And finally, requires the clerk of the court to compile an annual report on the number of civil actions filed regarding allegations of sexual conduct or contact committed against a minor.
2. COMMUNITY NETWORKING WITH BREAKOUT SESSIONS
When: 11/18/2021 5:00 PM – 6:15 PM
Location: Virtual Meeting via Zoom Link
Community Event: Sip & Connect Networking Event
Registration: https://azgreenchamber.org/event-4465993/Registration
Zoom link included in your registration confirmation email
3. Ultra Violet(UV) Light Offers Low-Cost, Safe Way To Curb Covid-19. For more than ten years, the editor has promoted the use of UV-C light to kill bacteria and viruses in the Biohazardous Medical Waste industry to protect company employees. With the introduction of Covid-19, the editor promoted the use of UV-C lamps in residential homes to protect residents from similar bacteria and viruses.
On October 4th, the University of Colorado at Boulder released a report touting the same message as a low-cost, safe way to curb Covid-19, safer for use in public spaces.
To read more about this study, go online to <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/
4. Earth Is Dimming Due To Climate Change
Warming oceans cause fewer bright clouds to reflect sunlight into space, trapping even more energy in Earth’s climate system.
Researchers used decades of measurements of earthshine — the light reflected from Earth that illuminates the surface of the Moon to find that there has been a significant drop in Earth’s reflectance over the past two decades. The Earth is now reflecting about half a watt less light per square meter than it was 20 years ago, with most of the drop occurring in the last three years.
Researchers used decades of measurements of earthshine — the light reflected from Earth that illuminates the surface of the Moon — as well as satellite measurements to find that there has been a significant drop in Earth’s reflectance, or albedo, over the past two decades.
The Earth is now reflecting about half a watt less light per square meter than it was 20 years ago, with most of the drop occurring in the last three years of earthshine data, according to the new study in the AGU journal Geophysical Research Letters, which publishes high-impact, short-format reports with immediate implications spanning all Earth and space sciences.
That’s the equivalent of 0.5% decrease in the Earth’s reflectance. Earth reflects about 30% of the sunlight that shines on it. Source: American Geophysical Union Read more at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210930104851.htm
5. Ever Wonder: How Apples Get Their Shapes. Using theory and experiments, researchers show how apples get their distinct cusp-like features.
How do apples grow that distinctive shape?
Now, a team of mathematicians and physicists have used observations, lab experiments, theory and computation to understand the growth and form of the cusp of an apple.
The paper is published in Nature Physics.
“Biological shapes are often organized by the presence of structures that serve as focal points,” said L Mahadevan, the Lola England de Valpine Professor of Applied Mathematics, of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, and of Physics at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS)
and senior author of the study. “These focal points can sometimes take the form of singularities where deformations are localized. A ubiquitous example is seen in the cusp of an apple, the inward dimple where the stalk meets the fruit.”
Using those apples, the team mapped the growth of the dimple, or cusp as they called it, over time.
To understand the evolution of the shape of the apple and the cusp in particular, the researchers turned to a long-standing mathematical theory known as singularity theory. Singularity theory is used to describe a host of different phenomena, from black holes, to more mundane examples such as the light patterns at the bottom of a swimming pool, droplet breakup and crack propagation.
“What is exciting about singularities is that they are universal. The apple cusp has nothing in common with light patterns in a swimming pool, or a droplet breaking off from a column of water, yet it makes the same shape as they do,” said Thomas Michaels, a former postdoctoral fellow at SEAS and co-lead author of the paper, now at University College London. “The concept of universality goes very deep and can be very useful because it connects singular phenomena observed in very different physical systems.”
Building from this theoretical framework, the researchers used numerical simulation to understand how differential growth between the fruit cortex and the core drives formation of the cusp. They then corroborated the simulations with experiments which mimicked the growth of apples using gel that swelled over time. The experiments showed that different rates of growth between the bulk of the apple and the stalk region resulted in the dimple-like cusp.
The team found that the underlying fruit anatomy along with mechanical instability may play joint roles in giving rise to multiple cusps in fruits.
Morphogenesis, literally the origin of shape, is one of the grand questions in biology. The shape of the humble apple has allowed us to probe some physical aspects of a biological singularity. Of course, we now need to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind the formation of the cusp, as we move slowly towards a broader theory of biological shape.” Source: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211004115131.htm
6. Learn About Sediment and Erosion Control Limitations! Reviewers and designers have an obligation to review and design sediment and erosion control (S&EC) best management practices (BMPs) for installation on construction sites. They must select and approve effective BMPs that contractors can bid on, install, and maintain. What is usually omitted by reviewers and designers are assessments on the effectiveness of BMPs to minimize sediment discharges and/or erosion.
Earn credit in this live, educational, and interactive webinar happening on Thursday, Oct 14 at 2 p.m. EST with prolific speaker Jerald S. Fifield (Ph.D., CISEC, HydroDynamics Incorporated). Jerald will emphasize limitations of rules and regulations, typical BMP details, and the use of BMPs selected to prevent or minimize the discharge of sediment-laden waters during runoff events.
Won’t be able to attend the live webinar? No worries, we’ve got you covered! All of our webinars are recorded and available On-Demand within 48 hours. Plus you can still receive credit! Cost $79.00
Copyright: EnviroInsight.org 2021
