Unequal opportunities: Small contractors say they are missing out on the ongoing U.S. housing boom as shortages of workers and supplies in hot markets result in project cancellations or business lost to bigger players, The Wall Street Journal reports. The high demand for new-home construction has led to increased competition for labor and higher costs for supplies and workers, pushing smaller contractors out. Read the full story.
On the rise: The average U.S. price of regular-grade gasoline rose 2 cents over the past two weeks to $3.15 per gallon. Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg of the Lundberg Survey said Sunday that the uptick is about one-third of the amount that crude oil prices rose over the same timeframe. A similar rise is likely to occur in the coming days. Nationwide, the highest average price for regular-grade gasoline is in the San Francisco Bay Area at $4.33 per gallon, and the lowest average is in Baton Rouge at $2.63 per gallon. See the report.
AI research: Nonprofit artificial intelligence startup LLENA Health Solutions Inc. today announced it is partnering with Southern University to support the university’s Center of Excellence for Nutrition, Health, Wellness, and Quality of Life initiative. The research initiative aims to address diet-related health disparities. LLENA will work with Southern faculty to provide artificial intelligence insights and targeted research in the areas of food insecurity, food deserts and COVID-19 in underserved local communities. See the announcement.
