Author: Leslie Eastman

Leslie Eastman

I am an Environmental Health and Safety Professional, as well as a science/technical writer for a variety of news and professional publications. I have been a citizen activist since 2009, and am one of the co-founders of the San Diego-based group, Southern California Tax Revolt Coalition.

FAA Moves to Exempt Commercial Rocket Launches From Key Environmental Reviews

Posted by Leslie Eastman on July 31, 2026 4 Comments

FAA moves to ensure regulatory processes serve genuine environmental interests rather than becoming a legal mechanism for undermining American space competitiveness....

Uganda Declares Itself Free of Ebola as DR Congo’s Outbreak Continues

Posted by Leslie Eastman on July 30, 2026 5 Comments

Meanwhile, 14 Americans were recently quarantined at Fort Drum after returning from the DRC....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC0gww2yznI

New U.S. Policy Seeks to Restrict High-Risk, Gain-of-Function Biology Research

Posted by Leslie Eastman on July 29, 2026 12 Comments

New framework ends federal support for dangerous gain-of-function research, strengthens oversight of other high-risk life sciences research, and restricts funding for research conducted in countries that lack appropriate biosafety standards....

China Hits U.S., Europe With New Rare Earths Export Controls

Posted by Leslie Eastman on July 29, 2026 9 Comments

Meanwhile, the U.S. just experienced a 5-week funding surge to support the nation's critical mineral supply chain....

U.S. Reopens Mexican Cattle Imports as Screwworm Response Shows Promising Results

Posted by Leslie Eastman on July 28, 2026 4 Comments

The construction of Texas sterile fly facility is now ahead of schedule....

Sen. Rand Paul Releases Document Trove Detailing Pre-Pandemic Biosecurity Breaches

Posted by Leslie Eastman on July 28, 2026 23 Comments

New document release shows Customs and Border Patrol intercepted undeclared biological materials tied to this network of American and Chinese coronavirus researchers in 2018, and the FBI stopped the agency from intercepting a key covid researcher in 2021....

NYC’s ‘Legionnaires’ Summer’ Continues With 5 Dead, Over 80 Infected

Posted by Leslie Eastman on July 27, 2026 5 Comments

NYC risks another Legionnaires' Summer without real reforms....

Texas Panhandle Rocked by a 5.0 Magnitude Earthquake

Posted by Leslie Eastman on July 27, 2026 22 Comments

You know things are getting bad in California when even the earthquakes are moving to Texas....

Starship Flight 13 Success Sets Stage for First Orbital Attempt by SpaceX

Posted by Leslie Eastman on July 25, 2026 6 Comments

Mission achieved goals of deploying Starlink V3 satellites and relighting a single engine in space....

Interior Dept. Proposes Expanding State Authority Over Grizzly Bear Management

Posted by Leslie Eastman on July 24, 2026 32 Comments

While grizzlies remain listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act, this could set the stage for future efforts to fully delist some populations....

CDC: 2026 Cyclospora Outbreak is the Largest Ever Recorded

Posted by Leslie Eastman on July 23, 2026 5 Comments

Meanwhile, Canada is dealing with its own outbreak of a diarrhea-causing microbe found in garlic powder....

Trump Threatens Canada With Tariffs Over Wildfire Smoke

Posted by Leslie Eastman on July 23, 2026 20 Comments

A more constructive approach to smoke managements would emphasize coordination rather than escalation. Framing the issue as a shared challenge would likely yield more effective results and help curb the new summer cycles of smoke currently experienced by Americans in the Midwest and Northeast....