Random News and Notes 24 March
We start in Port Arthur Texas where there has been an explosion at a Valero oil refinery. An explosion occurred in a diesel hydrotreater unit yesterday evening, which produced a large plume of thick black smoke and flames visible from miles away. The explosion rattled windows in nearby areas.
A shelter in place order – which had been issued for parts of western Port Arthur – has been lifted. Valero shut down the entire 380,000-barrel-per-day refinery as a precaution while investigating the cause.
File this one under F for funny or alternately FAFO. Delta Airlines has just announced it was ending its specialty programs for members of Congress due to the continuing refusal of Dems to fund DHS. No more special desks and escorts for members of Congress flying Delta.
Members of Congress will now receive services based on their SkyMiles status like other passengers.
The Supreme Court issued an opinion yesterday. The case, styled Zorn v Linton, is about police qualified immunity. The case arose from a January 8, 2015, sit-in protest at the Vermont State Capitol during Governor Peter Shumlin’s inauguration, where healthcare activists, including Shela Linton, refused to leave after closing time and were arrested for trespassing. During her arrest, Vermont State Police Sergeant Jacob Zorn used a rear wristlock pain-compliance technique on the passively resisting Linton to lift her to her feet after verbal warnings, leading her to sue him under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for alleged excessive force under the Fourth Amendment that caused physical arm injuries and psychological harm.
A district court judge granted summary judgement for Zorn, ruling he was entitled to qualified immunity. The 2nd Circuit reversed, holding that Sgt. Zorn was not entitled to qualified immunity.
A 6-3 Supreme Court reversed the 2nd Circuit.
Epic Fury News
Iran seems to think it is holding on to some sort of leverage regarding negotiations. They released a list of demands.
I could be wrong, but they all seem like non-starters to me. I mean, what have they actually accomplished other than being bomb sponges?
Lebanon has become the 4th country in the region to expel Iranian diplomats. The Lebanese have taken it a step further. While the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates all PNG’ed the military attache, Lebanon has expelled the ambassador-designate.
Given that Hezbollah, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Iranians, was until recently a major force in Lebanon, this is a big move. Maybe we can make Lebanon Christian again. . .