By Courtney Wirths
Features Editor
• California is sacking plastic bags. A new piece of legislation passed through the state legislature last week that would ban the use of plastic bags for purchases in grocery stores, pharmacies, liquor stores and other businesses. The bill is now headed to the Governor’s desk. Gov. Jerry Brown has not stated his position on what would be the nation’s first statewide plastic bag ban. The bill would allow reusable plastic bags to be sold in stores as well as paper bags for a minimum price of 10 cents.
• Google unveiled a plan to receive permits to fly commercial drones in the United States. The plan comes just months after Amazon revealed its plans to potentially use unmanned drones to deliver packages. Others in the industry (technology and defense) are encouraged by Google’s entrance into the field because the company has the resources, cash and experience to make a difference when lobbying for legislation changes. As of right now, the Federal Aviation Administration effectively bans all commercial drone use in the United States.
• A stabilization in coal prices may signal long-awaited relief for many small coal-mining towns across the world. Coal makes up about 40 percent of the worlds electricity generation, making it the largest source of energy globally. The stabilization is due to a combination of demand increase in countries, such as China and India, as well as pit shutdowns finally beginning to impact supply.
• T-Mobile US’s game of playing hard-to-get is paying off. The French telecommunications company, Iliad SA, said it would continue to pursue the cell company and is currently looking into taking on partners to form a more enticing bid for the US’s fourth largest mobile operator by subscribers. The company has received several bids over the past year, including one from Sprint Corp.
* All information according to the Wall Street Journal.
