Construction

California’s Bold Housing Laws Struggle to Spark Construction, Finds Nonprofit Report

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Sacramento, Calif. — Recent legislative efforts in California aimed at increasing housing construction across the state have not delivered the desired results, according to a report by YIMBY Law, a pro-development nonprofit focused on housing issues. The organization evaluated the effectiveness of five state laws enacted since 2021 designed to boost residential development through various means such as transforming vacant commercial sites and underutilized church parking lots into housing. These initiatives included progressive approaches like converting defunct shopping centers into residential apartments and relaxing zoning laws that traditionally limited many areas to single-family homes. However, … Read more

Lawsuit Challenges EPA’s Controversial Decision to Allow Radioactive Material in Road Construction

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WASHINGTON — A lawsuit was filed against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the Center for Biological Diversity concerning the agency’s recent approval for the utilization of phosphogypsum in road construction. This decision aligns with a pilot project by Mosaic at its New Wales facility in Mulberry, Florida. Phosphogypsum, a radioactive waste byproduct from phosphate fertilizer production, contains uranium and radium, substances known to increase cancer risks and genetic damage. Historically, the EPA has banned the use of phosphogypsum in road construction due to its hazardous nature. However, this new approval marks a potential shift … Read more

$8.5 Million Settlement for Family of Man Fatally Struck by Drug-Impaired Dump Truck Operator at St. Paul Construction Site

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St. Paul, Minn. — In a tragic incident in downtown St. Paul, a construction worker lost his life after being struck by a dump truck, leading to significant legal and financial repercussions for the company involved. The victim, 61-year-old Pete M. Davis of Stillwater, who had recently retired from a long career in public utility service to work in the private sector, died on the scene on September 28, 2022, under circumstances that have drawn intense scrutiny and resulted in an $8.5 million settlement. Davis was fatally injured at a construction site operated by SGP … Read more

$40 Million Lawsuit Claims Racial Bias in Construction of Obama Presidential Center

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Chicago, IL – A local construction firm, II in One, has launched a $40 million lawsuit against Thornton Tomasetti, the structural engineering firm overseeing the Obama Presidential Center’s construction, alleging racial discrimination and unfair business practices. The Chicago-based subcontractor, which began providing concrete and rebar services in 2021, claims it was unfairly forced into performing additional, costly work that threatens its financial stability. According to the lawsuit filed last month in federal court, Thornton Tomasetti deviated from usual industry standards set by the American Concrete Institute. This led to what II in One describes as … Read more