Legal/Regulation
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Justice Department subpoenas $9B Honolulu high-speed rail records
A federal grand jury is pursuing an investigation into funding and management of the beleaguered line, which has almost doubled in costs since 2012.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 21, 2019
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Cal/OSHA cites Shimmick, Con-Quest $65K in tunnel death
The accident led the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to require bidding contractors to submit more detailed safety plans.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 21, 2019
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Trump administration to kill $929M grant for California bullet train
The USDOT's move comes after the California High-Speed Rail Authority said it would reduce the $77 billion project to just its $10 billion Central Valley section.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 20, 2019
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Amazon may sign PLA for Virginia HQ2
With the tech giant nixing its New York plans, Arlington officials may push harder to give local construction unions pre-hire bargaining rights.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 19, 2019
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Trump declares national emergency in goal of getting $8B for wall
Congress' offer of $1.4 billion meant to avoid a shutdown is just a fraction of the $5.7 billion requested for border wall construction, and Democrats have vowed to fight Trump's move.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 15, 2019
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Deep DiveHigh stakes: State cannabis laws make contractors' obligations hazy
Laws permitting medical and sometimes recreational marijuana present challenges for employers — not the least of which is finding workers who can pass a hiring or post-accident/incident drug test.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 14, 2019
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State cites sub for $12M of wage theft violations
The California Labor Commissioner's Office claims that RDV Construction bounced paychecks and illegally deducted up to 25% from employees' pay.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 13, 2019
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Federal lawmakers propose $1.4B for border wall
President Trump has not said whether he will agree to the deal, which will cover only 55 miles of new barrier construction.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 13, 2019
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Feds sue New Jersey contractor for $679K to resolve delinquent OSHA fines
Frame Q owes $473,178 from eight jobsite inspections dating back to March 2014, along with government penalties, interest and fees.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 12, 2019
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2 contractors settle SBA 8(a) fraud allegations for $3.6M
The VMJ Construction/Vigil Contracting case is an example of how costly penalties can be for procurement fraud under the federal program.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 08, 2019
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Related wins TIF approval for $7B mixed-use Chicago riverfront project
The subsidy could generate as much as $551 million for infrastructure on the 62-acre plan dubbed The 78, which could receive the go-ahead next month.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 08, 2019
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Study: Difficult to control respirable silica levels during chipping, crushing
The findings suggested that workers performing demolition and related activities would be best protected by respiratory gear, even when dust control measures are in place.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 07, 2019
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Indictments cast shadow on Philadelphia construction industry
The charges against Local 98 IBEW union leader John Dougherty and others range from bribery to fraud, forcing some to consider how much undue influence the city's unions have over the local industry.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 07, 2019
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FAA spec update includes precast concrete for first time
With the Federal Aviation Administration's new specifications, precast suppliers and contractors are poised to get a bigger piece of construction and renovation projects at the more than 19,000 airports in the U.S.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 06, 2019
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Trump light on trade, infrastructure details in State of the Union address
Though the White House spent much of 2018 attempting to steer the national conversation toward infrastructure, the topic received just two sentences with no specific appropriations mentioned.
By Emma Cosgrove • Feb. 06, 2019
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Minnesota groups push for state to allow teens to work on construction sites
Some in the state's construction industry want regulation to echo federal law that allows 16- and 17-year-olds to work on jobsites.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 06, 2019
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Details emerge of prevailing wage deal between union, NYC on housing projects
This revelation echoes a proposal currently on the table that would require prevailing wages on many city construction projects receiving financial assistance from a local agency.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 06, 2019
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Trump executive order extends Buy American policy
The directive asks federal agencies to encourage contractors on infrastructure projects to buy iron, aluminum, steel, cement and other goods domestically.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 05, 2019
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Construction fatalities up in New York state, down in NYC
While the rate of jobsite deaths across the state increased 39% between 2013 and 2017, the city saw a 23% decrease, according to a report on the most recent Department of Labor data.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 05, 2019
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Miami-Dade approves zoning change to encourage TODs
The county's new zoning allows for higher density residential construction along six transit corridors.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 04, 2019
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Subs on $1.5B Philadelphia Comcast Technology Center file millions in liens
Multiple mechanic's liens were filed on the downtown high-rise project, alleging general contractor L.F. Driscoll, affiliates of developer Liberty Property Trust and others withheld payment.
By Kim Slowey • Feb. 04, 2019
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DOJ settles with Washington, DC, Metro's Silver Line concrete supplier for $1M
The agreement settles allegations that Universal Concrete Products falsified test records for concrete panels used in the extension of the Metrorail line.
By Kim Slowey • Jan. 31, 2019
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New Jersey lawmakers keep pressure on feds to help fund $13B Hudson River tunnel
The tunnel sustained significant damage from Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and could fail in the next 10 to 15 years.
By Kim Slowey • Jan. 31, 2019
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California wage deal could boost housing development
Proposed legislation could offer regulatory relief to residential developers in exchange for guaranteed wages for workers and other benefits.
By Kim Slowey • Jan. 31, 2019
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The biggest Q4 OSHA contractor fines
The agency proposed hefty penalties for several construction companies, including one for more than $420,000.
By Kim Slowey • Jan. 30, 2019