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Heathrow’s airlines must pay for failed expansion plans

Matt Falcus Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

A clash has recently developed between British Airways owners IAG and London Heathrow Airport after it was revealed that the airport can pass on the bill for the money it spent on its failed third runway proposal to its airlines. Plans to expand Heathrow with a third runway have been in the works since the 1970s, but in recent years a major push to gain approval was undertaken; so much so that early preparation and investigation works, not to mention the planning and legal work behind the bid, amounted to $650 million.

Report: Was there enough oversight for federal virus aid?

Seth Sandronsky Civil & Government

A new report on recipients of federal pandemic aid from the CARES Act asks if there was adequate congressional oversight before tax dollars went out the door as the economy closed to slow the spread of COVID-19 in March. "The revelation that tens of thousands of CARES Act recipients have records of misconduct — including some cases of a criminal nature — raises the question of whether the eligibility criteria for the grant and loan programs were strict enough," according to Philip Mattera, research director at Good Jobs First, a Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group.

Urban exodus revives luxury home sales

Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

Not all the news about the coronavirus pandemic is bad news. After slowing to a crawl in April and May, sales of luxury single-family homes rebounded in late June and July as affluent urbanites fled from congested cities and the confines of their high-end condos to seek out safer, more open spaces. In some more desirable areas, sales more than doubled or tripled over the same time last year.

How the CDC’s ban on evictions affects small landlords

Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk Management

On Sept. 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced an order to halt residential evictions through Dec. 31, 2020. The CDC issued the order under Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act in an effort to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. The CDC notes that the order doesn't relieve individuals of their obligation to pay rent, and doesn't preclude charging or collecting fees, penalties, and interest as the result of failing to pay rent in a timely manner.

US payrolls add 1.4 million jobs; unemployment rate drops to 8.4%

Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Employers added 1.4 million nonfarm new hires in August, down from the creation of 1.8 million jobs in July, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. August’s rate of unemployment fell to 8.4% from July’s 10.2%. Driving such improvements were economic reopening and Census 2020 hiring. The number of unemployed workers on temporary layoff dropped to 6.2 million in August compared with July’s 9.2 million, according to the BLS.

Why blended machines meet Six Sigma and Kaizen standards better than batching…

Michelle Pudlo Manufacturing

Optimizing a business to be efficient is a never-ending race. There are two concepts that business organizations rely on when working on optimization — the Six Sigma and Kaizen. Six Sigma is focused on 99.99966% of produced product features without any defects. Kaizen is a broad concept of improvement and development of every person in a company. We’re here to discuss how blended machines fit these concepts better than the classic batching machines used in fluid manufacturing, packaging, and storage.

How small businesses can manage hazardous waste: A guide

Amanda Wilson Waste Management & Environmental

Many small businesses are not even aware that they generate hazardous waste. Hazardous waste is any solid, liquid or gas that is either chemically or biologically treated, burned, incinerated, or recycled. Some companies dispose this waste directly into barren landmasses, rivers, and streams, which can cause serious environmental and health implications.

Home sales soar, and so do prices

Michael J. Berens Construction & Building Materials

The homebuying spree that began in June continued into July, fueled by a shift toward larger, suburban homes and low mortgage rates. However, although improved somewhat, inventory of homes for sale remained low. That combination of low supply and high demand increased competition for the homes that were available, pushing up the cost of purchasing a home to record levels.

Preparing your home for hurricane season — and how to handle hurricane…

Terri Williams Waste Management & Environmental

The pandemic has delayed or canceled many routine events, but hurricane season has elected not to take a break just because we’re in a pandemic. In fact, the National Hurricane Center is predicting a busy hurricane season from the end of August through early September. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself and your home during hurricane season.

The impact of COVID-19 and remote work on the housing market

Amanda Ghosh Construction & Building Materials

Almost six months into quarantine, we have started to hear stories about people buying homes in the suburbs because they are working remotely. But, what does the data say — has homebuying in the suburbs truly been affected by COVID-19? And, perhaps more importantly, is it realistic to believe that companies will continue to allow their employees to work remotely when COVID-19 is no longer a threat?

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