Episode 194: News Brief Ep. 1
In this episode:
In this first news brief for February 2026, Christi and Angela share construction-industry updates with a focus on North Carolina and South Carolina. They highlight state government priorities aimed at removing bottlenecks and maintaining the Carolinas’ status as a top construction market, including South Carolina’s South Carolina Justice Act push to reform joint and several liability toward a proportionate fault system to reduce “deep pocket” lawsuits and lower insurance premiums. They also discuss South Carolina energy expansion bills to streamline permitting for high-voltage transmission lines and natural gas pipelines supporting the battery-belt surge, with electricians in high demand. Workforce items include a need for 500,000 workers nationally, ABC’s education strategy supporting certified apprenticeships, NAWIC’s 2026 safety/retention priorities for women, and North Carolina’s “graduation with a trade” pilot placing seniors on job sites to earn diplomas and Level 1 apprenticeship credentials.
Show Notes and Links:
00:00 Welcome and Format
00:51 Carolina Policy Priorities
01:14 South Carolina Liability Reform
01:53 Energy Expansion and Power Demand
03:01 North Carolina Digital Permitting
04:05 Labor Neutrality and PLAs
04:53 Workforce Development Outlook
05:14 Apprenticeships and New Curricula
06:15 Women in Construction Retention
07:23 Trade Prep Diploma Pilot
08:06 Wrap Up and Resources
