Top of the News:

This independent coffee chain kept most of its workers when it began losing profits during the COVID-19 pandemic by teaching them construction skills.

Political:

President Biden is slowly working on winning over Senate Democrats on his $3.5 trillion and $1.2 trillion plans, both which encompass infrastructure, USA Today writes. The President had just successfully come to an agreement with Senate Democrats on a budget for the $3.5 trillion plan.

The Small Business Administration has withdrawn a set of questions that required businesses who have generated more than $2 million in loans to answer, Construction Dive reports. The questions, some which asked if any employees made more than $250,000 per year, have been the center of a lawsuit against the SBA by the Associated General Contractors of America.

Social:

Are your crews ready for the summer heat? EHS Daily Advisor has tips on keeping them cool and safe while working.

Engineering News-Record details how infrastructure projects such as highways were utilized as tools of racism, and how cities across the U.S. are working to rectify the issues that they cause in older completed projects and newer ones that are in progress.

Environmental:

The Minnesota Pollution Control is investigating a drilling fluid spill that occurred during pipeline company Enbridge’s construction work on the Line 3 oil pipeline, Minnesota Public Radio reports.

Luxembourg-based steel and mining business ArcelorMittal will be turning its Sestao plant into a zero-carbon emissions steel plant, Recycling Today writes. The company’s plans for doing so include powering its steel making partswith renewable energy.

Professional Development:

Here’s how to use gratitude to guide yourself during an intensive time.

Economic:

The construction industry is facing a major labor shortage, Globe St. writes.

Technology:

The 3-D printed home construction company Mighty Buildings has received an extra $22 million to help fund their carbon neutrality plans, Composites World reports.

The state of Connecticut is crafting an infrastructure plan that would incentivize the building of electric vehicle charging stations for personal use and commercial fleets, AP News writes.

Legal:

The construction focused tax fraud task force that the city of Pittsburgh put together appealed to the Pennsylvania Senate’s Labor and Industry Committee to curb the practices of subcontractors who would misclassify workers for tax purposes and operate under the wrong licenses, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.