Collateral damage from construction sites feature article — Oct. 25

The dangers that construction poses to workers is well known, but projects, particularly those in tight urban areas, can also generate risk for bystanders. In one of the most high-profile cases of late, a February crane collapse in Manhattan killed one pedestrian and injured three others. And just last week, a scaffold collapse at a high-rise job site in Miami resulted in the injury of at least five workers and the death of one bystander, who died from a "cardiac incident" as he ran to avoid falling debris.

In our feature article on Tuesday, Oct. 25, we'll explore factors such as property damage, noise pollution, traffic jams and even threats to human life — all of which construction companies need to consider when managing a job site.

Emerging leaders take to the field feature article — Oct. 25

In the third installment of our new series, "The Future of the Field" — which features interviews with emerging professionals to discuss what they're working on and their impressions of the industry — we talk with a young woman learning the ropes of her family's homebuilding business.

New home sales — Oct. 26

The Commerce Department will release new home sales data for September on Tuesday, Oct. 26. In its last report, the department announced new single-family home sales dropped 7.6% between July and August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 609,000.

The August decline was expected, as July sales had their strongest showing since October 2007. In fact, new home sales — which represent approximately 10% of all home sales — didn't fall as far as economists had predicted.

So far this month, housing market reports have been mixed, as builder confidence slipped only two points to the second-highest level this year, housing starts fell 9% and existing-home sales bumped up 3.2%. Will Wednesday's new home sales data add a positive report to the mix?

Effects of marijuana legalization on construction feature article — Oct. 27

One of the ways construction companies mitigate risk is by drug testing. But how does that long-standing safety practice come into play in states that have medical or recreational marijuana use laws in place? Is there a difference between testing positive and being under the influence, and what does that differentiation mean for construction safety? In our feature article on Thursday, Oct. 27, we'll talk with experts to find out how construction companies can approach this new wrinkle in their workforce management practices.

Pending home sales — Oct. 27

The National Association of Realtors will release pending home sales data for September on Thursday, Oct. 27. Last month, the NAR reported that pending sales dropped 2.4% in August to 108.5, the lowest level since January.

The group blamed limited housing inventory for the slowdown in August pending home sales. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun warned that unless construction activity picks up, the housing market recovery's could stagnate as home prices continue to rise nationwide.

Will Thursday's report show that pending home sales bounced back in September, or will it indicate another decline?