Tag: construction in the news: Page 6

Workforce

Shortage of skilled construction workers delays completion of Iowa biofuel plant

An Iowa biofuel plant is the latest major construction project to fall victim to the widespread shortage of skilled workers in the U.S. According to a report from the Ames Tribune, DuPont has delayed the completion date of a cellulosic ethanol plant the company is building in the city of Nevada, Iowa. The $200 million plant, […]

January 15, 2015

Dealers

Police bust heavy equipment theft ring responsible for $1.5 million in machines stolen from Indiana jobsites, dealers

An investigation involving three sheriff’s offices, a city police department and the FBI has busted two men for their connection to a theft ring responsible for the theft of $1.5 million in heavy equipment.

January 14, 2015

Business

Feds to crack down on widespread construction tax evasion scheme in Florida

The federal government has announced a partnership with Florida state officials to begin cracking down on the widespread use of a tax evasion scheme by construction companies throughout the state. According to a report from the Miami Herald, which uncovered much of the corrupt dealings during a year-long investigation published in September, the U.S. Department of Labor […]

January 14, 2015

Construction Equipment

Narwhal tusk smuggling conspiracy lands New Jersey construction worker in prison for 33 months

A construction worker from New Jersey has been convicted and sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for his role in a narwhal tusk smuggling operation. According to a report from the Bangor Daily News, in addition to his jail time, Andrew J. Zarauskas, 61, of Union, New Jersey, was also ordered to pay a fine […]

January 12, 2015

Construction Equipment

Residents of small Oregon town use bulldozer, snow to fight and contain large fire

With no fire department of their own, the residents of a small town in central Oregon banded together in sub-zero temperatures last week to fight a large fire, using whatever was at their disposal. According to a report from KTVZ TV, the blaze began in the early hours of December 31 with temperatures at -11 […]

January 8, 2015

Workforce

Worker hit in head by bullet as construction crew is targeted in drive-by shooting in St. Louis

A subcontractor on a parking lot project in St. Louis has pulled out of the job after a drive-by shooting targeted a construction crew earlier this week. According to a report from KMOV TV, four men fired about a dozen bullets from a car driving along 2nd Street targeting the construction workers. Thankfully no one was […]

January 2, 2015

Workforce

Construction worker shot and killed in robbery on Chicago jobsite

A construction worker and father of two was tragically shot and killed on the job Sunday night in Chicago’s Englewood community. According to a report from the Chicago Sun Times, Miguel Haro, 44, was part of a crew working to rehab a home. He was working with one other man “when two robbers walked up […]

December 23, 2014

Construction Equipment

Head Santa: Construction CEO doles out degrees in Kris Kringledom at oldest Santa School in U.S. (PHOTOS)

[imagebrowser id=162] In December, many contractors are winding down the year, moving equipment off frozen jobsites and back into the yard. Then there’s Tom Valent, president and CEO of Gerace Construction, a heavy industrial and infrastructure contractor based in Midland, Michigan. Despite the frigid weather outside, this is one of his busiest times of year. […]

December 22, 2014

Home

Texas plumber gets phone threats after old pickup winds up in hands of Islamic militants

When Jeff Oberholtzer retired and traded in one of his plumbing company’s Ford F-250s last year, he probably thought it was the last he’d see of the old pickup. And now? Boy, does he wish things would have turned out that way. According to a report fro KHOU, the phones have been ringing non-stop at Mark-1 Plumbing […]

December 18, 2014

Workforce

Construction crew unearths grenade without a pin, worker picks it up for some reason

A jobsite supervisor in Arizona got quite the scare last week when one of the guys on his crew walked up to him holding what appeared to be a live grenade. According to a report from WSEE TV, a crew with Sonoran Desert Ridge Development was trenching the front yard of a home in Scottsdale when […]

December 18, 2014

Business

Arson suspected in gigantic fire that destroyed apartment complex under construction in downtown Los Angeles

Police and fire officials in Los Angeles have opened a criminal investigation into a massive fire that broke out early Monday morning, engulfing an entire city block and destroying most of an apartment complex under construction. According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, the fire broke out around 1:20 a.m. Monday at the downtown […]

December 10, 2014

Workforce

Construction superintendent risks his life to stop wrong-way driver in Florida

After seeing story after story about deaths resulting from accidents caused by people driving the wrong way down Florida Interstates and highways, one construction worker took action last week when he was confronted with a similar situation. According to a report from WTSP TV, Ed Heitner, a project superintendent for Tampa-based Prince Contracting, was driving south […]

December 9, 2014