Construction contractors
FILE - In this July 27, 2021, file photo, people walk past the National Stadium in Tokyo. The price tag for the Tokyo Olympics is $15.4 billion. Tokyo built eight new venues. The two most expensive were the National Stadium, which cost $1.43 billion, and the new aquatic center, priced a $520 million. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)
Tokyo Olympics cost $15.4 billion. What else could that buy?

By Stephen Wade Aug. 06, 2021 10:11 PM EDT

FILE - A concrete pump frames the Capitol Dome during renovations and repairs to Lower Senate Park on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 18, 2021. Plans to pump money into rebuilding the nation’s roads, bridges and other infrastructure could give companies that make machinery and materials a solid foundation for growth. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file)
Infrastructure spending promises boost for construction cos.

By Damian J. Troise Jun. 25, 2021 02:04 PM EDT

In this photo provided by Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County, a home is constructed by Habitat for Humanity on Sept. 12, 2019, in Greenville, S.C. Reeling from massive cutbacks in volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and grappling with high construction costs, Habitat for Humanity affiliates would be the first to admit they’re struggling. (Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County via AP)
Habitat for Humanity struggles with high construction costs

By Haleluya Hadero Jun. 25, 2021 10:23 AM EDT

General contractor Victoria Staten poses for a portrait at her home Thursday, June 17, 2021, in Chicago. Small business owners like Staten have endured shutdowns and revenue drops during the COVID-19 outbreak, now must contend with another crisis: spiking prices for goods and services that squeeze profits and force many owners to pass the increases along to customers. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Inflation poses new challenge for pandemic-weary businesses

By Joyce M. Rosenberg Jun. 23, 2021 08:27 AM EDT

FILE - In this June 2, 2019, file photo, a volunteer prepares to place crosses for victims of a mass shooting at a municipal building in Virginia Beach, Va., at a nearby makeshift memorial. DeWayne Craddock, a city engineer who fatally shot 12 people in a Virginia Beach municipal building in 2019 “was motivated by perceived workplace grievances” that “he fixated on for years,” according to findings released by the FBI on Wednesday, June 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
FBI: Perceived grievances drove Virginia Beach mass shooter

By Ben Finley Jun. 09, 2021 12:08 PM EDT

A statue of Jesus Christ stands in front of the remains of a house in Cameron Parish, La. on Monday, May 24, 2021. Scores of people in coastal Louisiana are still living in campers on dirt mounds or next to cement slabs where their houses once stood. Unresolved insurance claims and a shortage of supply and labor are stymying building efforts. And weather forecasters are warning of more possible devastation to come. (AP Photo/Rebecca Santana)
Louisiana coast still hurting from storms, bracing for more

By Rebecca Santana May. 30, 2021 11:04 AM EDT

This photo provided by Hannah Albert on Sept. 23, 2020 shows workers at Braised in the South, a Johns Island, S.C., restaurant and food truck business that is having trouble finding workers during the pandemic. Many small businesses find hiring more difficult because many would-be staffers fear contracting COVID-19 on the job or would prefer to live off unemployment benefits. (Hannah Albert via AP)
Businesses scramble for help as job openings go unfilled

By Joyce M. Rosenberg Apr. 21, 2021 08:12 AM EDT

Family sees 'hope, strength' since Cedar Falls teen's injury

By Melody Parker Nov. 27, 2020 09:40 AM EST
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — While 16-year-old Jaxon Hansen was undergoing surgery for a significant spinal cord injury at Iowa City’s University of Iowa Stead...

TC Energy says Keystone XL pipeline fits Biden agenda

Nov. 17, 2020 06:24 PM EST
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — The creation of union jobs and support by Indigenous investors will help convince U.S. President-elect Joe Biden that the Keystone XL...

Labor, civil rights groups: Iowa failed to protect workers

By David Pitt Nov. 13, 2020 02:38 PM EST
Eight Iowa labor and civil rights groups filed a federal complaint Friday alleging the state has failed to protect workers in meatpacking, dairy, construction,...

Court asked to stop work at Formosa Plastics' Louisiana site

By Janet Mcconnaughey Jul. 14, 2020 01:39 PM EDT
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Opponents of a Taiwan-based company’s plans for a $9.4 billion plastics complex asked a federal judge on Tuesday to stop work at the site in...

More than 81,000 Arizona businesses get coronavirus loans

Jul. 06, 2020 07:18 PM EDT
PHOENIX (AP) — Just over 81,000 Arizona small businesses were approved for loans worth $8.6 billion under a government program meant to keep people employed...

Thousands of Iowa companies get federal virus-related loans

By David Pitt Jul. 06, 2020 05:27 PM EDT
About 6,000 Iowa businesses received loans of $150,000 or more from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, according to a government list released Monday. ...

Bill would help electricians, contractors; fair canceled

Jun. 24, 2020 08:55 AM EDT
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A bill supported by a group of U.S. senators, including Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, would help electricians, HVAC technicians, and...

Police use their water cannon to extinguish a shop that was set on fire by protesters during an anti-government protest in Beirut, Lebanon, early Friday, June 12, 2020. Lebanon's prime minister held an emergency Cabinet meeting Friday, hours after demonstrators shut roads across the country with burning tires in renewed nationwide protests spurred by a plunging national currency and economic crisis. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Lebanese fear currency will further tumble despite promises

By Sarah El Deeb Jun. 12, 2020 01:28 PM EDT

In this Wednesday, May 6, 2020, photo Ginger Bruner, left, plays bocce ball will friends at a park in Las Vegas. Bruner is a musician and hasn't worked since the coronavirus shutdown. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Nevada jobless a record 22%; performers hope gigs can return

By Ken Ritter May. 08, 2020 02:16 PM EDT

Maine company to double production of virus testing swabs

By David Sharp Apr. 30, 2020 09:41 AM EDT
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine company that makes specialized swabs for coronavirus testing is teaming up with construction company Cianbro and Navy...

A man walks past a closed business, Wednesday, April 29, 2020, in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. The U.S. economy shrank at a 4.8% annual rate last quarter as the coronavirus pandemic shut down much of the country and began triggering a recession that will end the longest expansion on record. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
30 million have sought US unemployment aid since virus hit

By Christopher Rugaber Apr. 30, 2020 07:14 AM EDT

Interstate 70 lane closures in Indianapolis to begin Monday

Apr. 11, 2020 11:44 AM EDT
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — State highway officials are closing a portion of Interstate 70 in Indianapolis to tackle roadwork during the drop in traffic that followed...