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20 States and D.C. Add Construction Jobs in December

William Attardi on January 29, 2026

Construction employment rose in 34 states and the District of Columbia over the past year, while 20 states and D.C. added jobs between November and December, according to an analysisof new federal data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America.  California lost the most construction jobs during the past 12 months (-19,800 jobs, -2.2 percent), followed by New York (-15,700 jobs, -4.1 percent), Washington (-11,600 jobs, -5.2 percent), Nevada (-10,500 jobs, -9.3 percent), and New Jersey (-10,200 jobs, -6.2 percent). The largest percentage loss was in Nevada, followed by New Jersey, Washington, New York, and Vermont (-3.7 percent, -600 jobs).  20 States and D.C. Add Construction Jobs in December – tEDmag

Home Depot Introduces AI Tool for PROS

William Attardi on January 29, 2026

The Home Depot introduced Material List Builder AI, a new capability that helps professional renovators, remodelers, builders, and specialty tradespeople create actionable project material lists within minutes. Material List Builder AI leverages AI technology to interpret the project intent and generate an accurate, grouped list of materials needed for the entire job – helping Pros stay on time and on budget. There are multiple ways for Pros to quickly and easily input project details for material list generation at: Material List Builder AI is available for free to all Pro Xtra members within The Home Depot’s Project Planning tool, a digital platform designed to streamline how Pros plan, manage and execute complex projects. Home Depot Introduces AI Tool for PROS – tEDmag

The Future of Roadway Electrification

William Attardi on January 26, 2026

In late 2025, a system designed by engineers at Purdue University delivered 190kW to a battery in a truck traveling 65-mph on a quarter-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 52 in West Lafayette, Ind. A Cummins prototype Class 8 electric semi-tractor was outfitted with a single receiver coil that took the charge from a web of transmitter coils installed below concrete highway pavement by the Indiana Department of Transportation. The successful test, Purdue says, is a milestone in dynamic charging research because it shows that it is conceivable to deliver the higher power levels required for charging the batteries of heavy-duty trucks as they move down the road. The power delivered by the Purdue system in the test far exceeds that delivered in other dynamic wireless charging tests that have focused on less demanding lighter-duty vehicles, opening the door to a future where heavy-duty trucks could be equipped with a single receiver coil and smaller, lighter batteries capable of being dynamically charged. Electrified Road Tests Dynamic Heavy Truck Charging | EC&M

Leviton Celebrates 120 Years

William Attardi on January 25, 2026

Leviton, a leading manufacturer of electrical, lighting, data network and energy management solutions that light, power and connect everyday spaces, is celebrating the 120th anniversary of its founding this year. Established in 1906, Leviton began as a small tinsmithing business founded by Isidor Leviton, where he produced mantle tips used for gas lighting. Since those humble beginnings, Leviton has grown from a single-product manufacturer into a global leader delivering comprehensive solutions across electrical wiring devices, lighting and controls, data networking and energy management. Today, Leviton products are found in homes, commercial spaces such as offices and healthcare facilities, data centers, schools, industrial environments and more – supporting safe, reliable, and increasingly connected spaces. Leviton Celebrates 120 Years

TikTok Goes American by Matty Merritt

William Attardi on January 24, 2026

TikTok is an American company now. Ownership of TikTok’s US operations has officially changed hands, but your experience on the app likely won’t change much…immediately. A group of American investors closed a $14 billion deal Thursday night to acquire the US version of the short-form video app and avoid a shutdown mandated by the 2024 divest-or-ban law due to national security concerns. Under the deal, TikTok’s original parent, ByteDance, will retain 19.9% of the company while Larry Ellison’s Oracle, private equity firm Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based investment company MGX will split 45% of the company as managing investors. Most of the remaining shares of the new US TikTok entity will be owned by existing ByteDance investors. The three managing investors will own US user data and be tasked with moderating US content. ByteDance will still own its wildly valuable algorithm, but, according to a White House official, it will lease a copy to the owners of the US entity. For starters, you won’t need to download a new app.   A group of US investors bought TikTok

US Energy Department Reorganization Signals Major Policy Shift to Nuclear and Gas

William Attardi on January 24, 2026

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a significant shift in its energy policy, moving away from renewable energy sources like solar and wind and towards baseload power sources such as natural gas and nuclear power. This decision involves the reorganization of nearly $84 billion in loans and conditional commitments, with approximately $9.5 billion in subsidies for wind and solar projects being eliminated. The DOE’s new focus is on supporting the private sector through energy projects that provide consistent power rather than intermittent generation. This shift is part of a broader policy to enhance energy security and domestic production, as outlined by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. US Energy Department Reorganization Signals Major Policy Shift to Nuclear and Gas → Energy

Medical Device Manufacturing and Reshoring Efforts by Todd Shryock

William Attardi on January 24, 2026

As the medical device industry heads into 2026, it finds itself at a pivotal moment shaped by rapid technological change, regulatory scrutiny, and ongoing economic uncertainty. Innovation remains the industry’s defining trait, but the path from concept to commercialization is becoming more complex and, in many cases, more fragile. Artificial intelligence is now embedded in everything from diagnostics and imaging to remote monitoring and surgical tools. While AI promises transformative capabilities, it also introduces new layers of risk and ambiguity during development. Questions around data quality, algorithm transparency, bias, and ongoing performance monitoring are increasingly difficult to separate from core product design, raising the stakes for manufacturers long before a device ever reaches the market. Medical device manufacturing and reshoring efforts | Medical Economics

America Signs Semiconductor Trade Deal with Taiwan

William Attardi on January 22, 2026

This unprecedented commitment will strengthen U.S. economic resilience, create high-paying jobs, and bolster national security. The agreement establishes a strategic economic partnership between the United States and Taiwan to decisively strengthen U.S. domestic semiconductor supply chains and secure America’s technological and industrial leadership. Taiwan will facilitate U.S. investment in the Taiwanese semiconductor, AI, defense technology, telecommunications, and biotechnology industries to expand market access for American companies, deepen technological collaboration, and strengthen U.S. leadership in critical and emerging industries. The agreement will enhance balanced trade through a predictable tariff framework. America Signs Semiconductor Trade Deal With Taiwan – electrifiED

National Lighting Bureau Opens Call for Entries for 7th Annual Tesla Awards

William Attardi on January 18, 2026

The National Lighting Bureau has opened the call for entries for the seventh annual Tesla Awards, a program that recognizes excellence in indoor and outdoor lighting projects. The awards highlight projects that demonstrate the value of effective lighting design through improved visual performance, support for health and wellness, reduced environmental impact, enhanced safety and security, and increased occupant satisfaction. Open to new construction and retrofit projects completed in 2023, 2024, or 2025, the program welcomes submissions from anyone involved in lighting design or implementation. To learn more or begin a submission, visit NLB’s website.

Inflation Held Steady at 2.7% to End 2025

William Attardi on January 18, 2026

Consumer prices rose 2.7% in December, virtually unchanged from November and roughly in line with analysts’ expectations, per the latest reading from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Inflation was helped by falling used car and truck prices, but rising grocery costs prevented the rate from making more progress toward the Fed’s 2% target. Food prices spiked 0.7% in December—the fastest monthly gain since 2022, the New York Times noted. Compared to the same period in 2024, food prices were up by 3.1%. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has previously said he expects the peak impact of tariffs to show up in Q1 of this year. Morning Brew

Telling Time – 12-hour time is a very ancient system that traces back to the Mesopotamian empires. They had a cultural fixation with the number 12, used a base-12 numerical system, and divided up most things into 12ths whenever possible – including day and night. The 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night system spread throughout Europe and the Middle East and has defied multiple attempts to change it over the centuries. Also, for anyone curious as to why there was such a love of the number 12, it was because that was how they counted on their hand. Look at your hand. Notice how each of your fingers minus your thumb has three easily identifiable parts to it. They used to count by using their thumb to count each part of the finger, much in the same way we count to 10 using our fingers today. So, 12 was the max you could count on one hand.