** For the first time in the United States, a drone completed a scheduled commercial residential delivery to a home in Christiansburg, Virginia. The drone delivery was conducted by Wing Aviation, in collaboration with FedEx Express, as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program.
For the duration of the trial, Wing drones will transport select FedEx packages to qualifying homes in Christiansburg, demonstrating the benefits of drone delivery for last-mile delivery service.
** Florida Rep. Francis Rooney, the most outspoken climate change advocate in the House Republican caucus, said he will retire from Congress after just two terms. The former construction executive and ambassador to the Holy See announced his decision Saturday on Fox News, one day after making waves for breaking with his party on the ongoing Democratic-led impeachment inquiry into President Trump, saying he was “shocked” by some of the recent revelations and did not rule out voting to impeach.
** Energy Secretary Rick Perry says he’ll officially step down from office at the end of November, giving him time to work on outstanding issues. Those issues include work on a potential 12 agreement with Saudi Arabia to set standards for the possible export of U.S. nuclear technology to the country.
Perry’s replacement? President Trump has tweeted he will nominate Deputy Secretary Dan Brouillette to take over as head of the Department of Energy.
** The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration signaled Friday it would propose a rule that would allow shipping liquefied natural gas by rail car, according to POLITICO’s Morning Energy Report.The proposal could prove controversial with lawmakers concerned about the danger of shipping a highly flammable liquid by rail. The newly proposed rule would allow the use of DOT-113 rail tank cars, which can be used to ship other cryogenic liquids.
