An Ellensburg man will be getting used to life behind bars after he was sentenced to five years in prison for committing the biggest contractor fraud scheme in state history, according to Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries in an article from iFiberOne.

Construction of a segment of Metro Rail’s Purple Line Extension has been halted for two weeks due to several “serious safety concerns” that have injured dozens of workers since July 2021, according to a report published by MyLAnews.com and the Los Angeles Times in October.

Simpson Strong-Tie, the leader in engineered structural connectors and building solutions, has received two Pro Tool Innovation Awards — the first in the Attachments Drills/Drivers category for its Quik Drive PROHSD75 Wood-to-Steel solution and the second in the Metal Screws category for its Strong-Drive TF Wood-to-Steel screws. The awards are judged by a diverse panel of professional tradespeople as well as media sponsor judges (all of whom make up a team with decades of experience handling, operating and/or testing hundreds of tools, accessories and fasteners each year).

The Educational Foundation of the International Furnishings and Design Association is pleased to announce its design student scholarship winners for 2022. Since the early years of this 75-year-old global design industry alliance, EF has awarded scholarships to high-achieving design students.

The global home decor market is expected to increase at a strong CAGR throughout the evaluation period and reach a value of roughly U.S. $855,680 million in 2022. The home décor industry is expanding internationally as more people, particularly in poorer nations, own houses.

EverGreene Architectural Arts announced that Chad Reilly, AIA has been appointed new CEO of the company. Reilly brings a wealth of expertise to this role, having served in a number of senior leadership capacities in architectural and engineering firms for over two decades.

Makita, the innovation leader in cordless technology, has pushed cordless into new spaces with the announcement of Outdoor Adventure, a new range of cordless products for camping, hiking, fishing, tailgating and more.

Total construction spending declined by 0.7 percent in August as spending on new houses turned sharply lower, while public and private nonresidential construction posted mixed results, according to an analysis the Associated General Contractors of America released on Oct. 3 of federal spending data. Association officials said that rising interest rates were hurting demand for housing and many private-sector projects, while the impacts of new federal funding for infrastructure, semiconductor plants and green energy facilities have yet to fully kick in.

L&W Supply announced on Oct. 3 that it has acquired the assets of Dana Wallboard Supply, Inc. in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts.

The National Center for Construction Education and Research is pleased to announce its first ever podcast, The Builders’ Table, is now available for download.