Legal/Regulation: Page 88
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$8M proposed FL tiny house community faces major resistance from neighbors
Potential neighbors have filed legal challenges to the development due to their concerns about the types of residents who will live in the low-income development.
By Kim Slowey • April 4, 2016 -
NY authorities: Contractor charged with 136 felony counts for failing to pay union benefits
Prosecutors alleged that Arbor Concrete Corp. and owner Kenneth Padover did not pay workers more than $250,000 in benefits required under prevailing wage laws.
By Kim Slowey • April 4, 2016 -
ABC lawsuit against DOL claims 'persuader' rule will 'chill employers' First Amendment rights'
The expanded version of the rule obligates employers to reveal if they’ve consulted with outside sources in developing employee communication about unionization.
By Kim Slowey • April 1, 2016 -
DC architect sentenced to 33-month prison term for VA bribery scheme
Prosecutors alleged that Mark Farmer paid a VA department head in exchange for inside information to give his former employer an advantage over other firms.
By Kim Slowey • March 31, 2016 -
Deep Dive
Construction unions: Headed for extinction or poised for a resurgence?
The ongoing industry debate centers around greater guarantees of high-quality work vs. the possible drain on construction company profits.
By Kim Slowey • March 31, 2016 -
No criminal charges in deadly Berkeley balcony collapse
Prosecutors said they have found no cause to bring charges against the construction company, building owner, or anyone else potentially involved with the collapse last June that killed six people.
By Kim Slowey • March 30, 2016 -
Report: CA bullet train's 1st phase could face $400M in change orders
The project has been under a legislative magnifying glass since an LA Times investigation suggested that rail authority officials had not been upfront about its viability or cost.
By Kim Slowey • March 30, 2016 -
PA paving contractor barred from working in state, fined $76K
The Pennsylvania Bureau of Consumer Protection said contractor Daniel Fry performed shoddy or incomplete work for several customers.
By Kim Slowey • March 29, 2016 -
Sacramento, CA, weighs funding options for $3.6B infrastructure plan
City officials said they’ll need local assistance for a list of transportation improvements — as state and federal funding has failed to keep up with demand.
By Kim Slowey • March 29, 2016 -
CT contractor ordered to pay workers $3.4M in racial discrimination suit
The lawsuit against contractor Safety Marking Inc. alleged that two workers were subjected to discrimination and a hostile work environment for years.
By Kim Slowey • March 28, 2016 -
Wage dispute sparks union protest at Apple 'spaceship' campus
UA Local 393 alleged that Preston Pipelines is not paying its plumbers the prevailing wage rate, but Preston officials denied the claim and said the matter is in litigation.
By Kim Slowey • March 28, 2016 -
OSHA issues final silica rule
The construction industry has been one of the biggest opponents to the rule since it was first proposed in 2013, as an industry coalition predicted it will lead to the loss of more than 33,000 full-time jobs.
By Emily Peiffer • March 24, 2016 -
MA contractor fined $54K for prevailing wage violations
The Massachusetts Attorney General's office alleged that I.W. Harding Construction Company did not pay employees the prevailing wage rate on 11 state projects.
By Kim Slowey • March 24, 2016 -
NYC mayor's affordable housing plan scores major win with City Council approval
Mayor Bill de Blasio's plan includes mandatory developer set-asides ranging from 20% to 30%, depending on the residents' income levels.
By Kim Slowey • March 24, 2016 -
VA Dept.: No one left to punish in CO hospital debacle
The Aurora, CO, hospital is more than four years behind schedule, and costs have skyrocketed to $1.7 billion — more than three times the original price tag.
By Kim Slowey • March 24, 2016 -
UPDATE: Worker's 53-story fall on Turner Construction Los Angeles site ruled a suicide
Turner said that Cal/OSHA and the Los Angeles Police Department determined the fall was not work-related and that the agency could find no fall protection violations.
By Kim Slowey • March 24, 2016 -
Deep Dive
P3s: A growing alternative with potential to capitalize on 'privatized innovation'
Regulatory issues and a lack of education about public-private partnerships are some of the challenges facing the model, according to experts.
By Kim Slowey • March 23, 2016 -
Trial underway over TX construction worker's drowning death
The case has raised larger questions of whether the worker, who was wearing a safety harness, should have been 100% tied off while working over water.
By Kim Slowey • March 23, 2016 -
NAHB urges Congress to reduce 'regulatory burden' on residential construction
The association said regulatory costs from permitting, land development and construction codes can add up to 25% to a single-family home's cost.
By Kim Slowey • March 23, 2016 -
KS construction industry reps blame state officials for lost jobs
Kansas Contractors Association officials said that $2.1 billion of road and bridge funds has been diverted to other state uses over the last six years.
By Kim Slowey • March 22, 2016 -
Skanska-Hunt sues to block hiring of new Seattle convention center contractor
Representatives from the joint venture, which was removed from the project earlier this month, said officials have refused to meet with them and that there were no performance complaints prior to termination.
By Kim Slowey • March 21, 2016 -
Don't Sky-walk away: Chicago officials request lift on Lucas museum construction ban
City officials are in danger of missing a lease agreement deadline that would allow George Lucas to walk away from the Chicago museum deal.
By Kim Slowey • March 21, 2016 -
Authorities: AZ contractor fined $1.2M for 'ongoing conspiracy'
Arizona state licensing officials said Ronald Dew operated without a license while targeting older customers with unnecessary repairs and training his employees to do the same.
By Kim Slowey • March 18, 2016 -
NC voters approve $2B infrastructure bond package
North Carolina construction companies said the most significant problem ahead will be finding enough skilled labor to staff the major projects.
By Kim Slowey • March 18, 2016 -
Worker's forklift death prompts $105K OSHA fine for WI contractor
Due to what OSHA called its "dismal" safety record, Lunda Construction is now in the agency's Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
By Kim Slowey • March 17, 2016