The 2018 Design-Build Project award winners wereÌýannounced at an awards dinner during the Design-Build Conference & Expo,ÌýNov. 7-9 in New Orleans. From university buildings to bridge replacements, thisÌýyear’s winners are some of the best construction projects in the country.ÌýSeveral ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓmembers are part of award-winning teams and were honored by DBIAÌýfor their accomplishments.

The ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓWestern Michigan Chapter announced its first-everÌýconstruction technology and innovation conference, which will be held onÌýTuesday, Feb. 19, 2019, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Nearly 350 constructionÌýindustry professionals from cities across the country will gather to beÌýinspired by numerous education sessions, exhibitor displays and liveÌýdemonstrations—all centered around the advancement of technology.

The ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓBoard of Directors elected Tony Rader, telecom vice president for National Roofing Partners, to serve as the 2019 national chair during the association’s annual Leadership Institute in Las Vegas. Ray Zamora, president of AnchorBuilt Inc., was elected chair-elect, and Steve Klessig, vice president of architecture and engineering, Keller Inc., was elected secretary.Ìý

On Nov. 9, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration published aÌýfinal rule that updates its standard forÌýcranes and derricks in constructionÌýto ensure crane operators are qualified to safely operate equipment.ÌýTheÌýfinal ruleÌýrequires employers to train operators as needed to perform assigned crane activities, evaluate them and document successful completion of the evaluations.Ìý

The Construction Legal Rights Foundation supports efforts to preserve, protect and defend the free enterprise system in the construction industry.ÌýWatch ABC’s new video to find out how the foundation offers financial support through legal and issue advocacy campaigns.Ìý

Construction prices rose 0.5 percent in October and are 7.9 percent high than at the same time a year ago, according to an analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data conducted by ABC. Prices for nonresidential construction inputs also increased 0.5 percent on a month-over-month basis and are up by more than 8 percent on a year-over-year basis.Ìý

Last night, Chuck Goodrich, president and CEO of Gaylor Electric Inc. and the immediate past chair of ABC, was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives for District 29, beating Democrat Tracy Roberts for the House of Representatives seat representing Noblesville 65 percent to 35 percent.

While some races have yet to be decided, the American electorate voted for Democrats to take the House majority while increasing the Senate majority held by Republicans.ÌýThe number of seats controlled by Democrats in the House of Representatives is projected to be around 230 seats, with Republicans holding around 206 seats, giving Democrats a majority of approximately 24 seats.

Eugene Jowers, aÌýProject JumpStartÌýgraduate and employee of ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓmemberÌýRegional Contracting Services, was featured in a Nov. 2ÌýCNBC segmentÌýthat also ran onÌýPBS Nightly Business ReportÌýhighlighting ABC’s efforts to attract more workers to the construction industry.Ìý

On Oct. 31, ABCÌýsubmitted commentsÌýto the Environmental Protection Agency in support of theÌýAffordable Clean Energy proposed rule, officially titled Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Existing Electric Utility Generating Units; Revisions to Emission Guideline Implementing Regulations; Revisions to New Source Review Program. If finalized, the ACE rule would replace the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan with revised emissions guidelines, propose new regulations to direct both EPA and the states on the implementation of emission guidelines and revise the New Source Review program.Ìý