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As part of an ongoing widespread investigation into wage theft at public works projects in New York City, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Mark G. Peters today announced the conviction and sentencing of Jagdish Singh and Navico B & S Construction Corp. (Navico) for underpaying wages and benefits to 5 workers at a publicly-funded New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) construction project in Queens by requiring wage kickbacks from employees.

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (“TDHCA”) has allocated $63.5 million in tax credits to private developers competing in the 2015 Housing Tax Credit Program. Because the credits may be used over a 10-year period, these awards will generate close to $635 million in equity financing for 64 affordable rental properties

Scientists at the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have demonstrated a way to significantly increase the efficiency of perovskite solar cells by reducing the amount of energy lost to heat

In accordance with the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, HUD published a Notice in the Oct. 30, 2015, Federal Register identifying Federal buildings and other real property HUD has reviewed for suitability for use to assist the homeless. The properties were reviewed using information provided to HUD by Federal landholding agencies or by GSA regarding their inventories of excess or surplus property. The list includes buildings and properties in the District of Columbia, Illinois, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas.

The Indiana Court of Appeals yesterday struck down approval of Vectren’s plan to spend roughly $90 million in ratepayer money on its aging A.B. Brown and F.B. Culley coal-fired power plants outside Evansville. The Court found that the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission violated the law by failing to determine whether Vectren met all legal requirements before approving Vectren’s use of the new equipment. The Court’s decision means that the case goes back to the Commission to decide whether Vectren should be allowed to pass the costs of the projects on to its ratepayers

Ten years ago in October 2005, a determined group of Housing Partnership Network (HPN) members and staff commandeered an RV in Fort Myers, Florida to make the difficult journey to New Orleans. The city was still virtually inaccessible in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Our nationwide network had jumped into action after the storm with HPN members providing temporary shelter to thousands of evacuees in member-owned housing developments throughout the country.

The Justice Department announced today that a federal district court has approved a supplemental consent decree between the United States, the Maryland Disability Law Center and the Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC). The original consent decree contained remedies for HABC’s failure to provide accessible housing to persons with disabilities. The supplemental consent decree, which was approved today by U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz of the District of Maryland, continues and amends certain terms in the original consent order in United States v. HABC, and Bailey v. HABC, entered on Dec. 20, 2004

“The Dictionary of Real Estate Appraisal,” sixth edition, published this week by the Appraisal Institute, includes more than 5,000 entries, 1,250 revised definitions and 450 new terms and has been updated for consistency with current professional standards documents and with Appraisal Institute materials.

Saudi Arabia is witnessing a phenomenal expansion and development program. Upcoming mega-projects such as King Abdullah Economic City, Kingdom City and Jazan Economic City are well underway and positively impacting the local interiors market. Saudi Arabia have attracted international acclaim for undertaking the world’s largest investments across building up of its educational sector and upgrading healthcare facilities, also pointing to the massive opportunity for the furniture markets that lies in these segments.

Holmes Murphy and Associates recently welcomed seven new personnel to the Property Casualty division of its Kansas City office, enhancing the expertise already provided to clients.

The Bayou Cane Apartments located on Synergy Center Boulevard in Houma add 82 newly-constructed apartment homes to the community. The four-acre landscaped site features five, two- and three-story garden-style apartment buildings, a playground, community center, dog park, on-site parking and a nature trail

Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) is pleased to announce that John F. Mealey, Coachella Valley Housing Coalition (CVHC) Executive Director, is the recipient of the 2015 Bill French Award. RCAC is recognizing Mealey’s more than 30 years of service in California’s Coachella Valley to bring affordable housing to thousands of low- and very low-income families. From a $10,000 seed money grant from the Aetna Foundation, Mealey directed CVHC’s growth to its current value of about $550 million

The 2nd Quarter Preliminary Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills are due Monday, November 2nd. The Scituate Town Hall regular business hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:30am-4:45pm, and Tuesdays, 8:30am-7:30pm. Bills were mailed June 30th with payment coupons for both the 1st and 2nd Quarters.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal, Yonkers and State officials and community leaders joined The Community Builders, Inc., to cut the ribbon for Schoolhouse Terrace Apartments in Southwest Yonkers. It is the first development in a planned six-phase neighborhood revitalization project funded through the Governor’s Regional Economic Development Council and New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR)

Gov. Terry Branstad announced the designation of three counties in northwest Iowa as Home Base Iowa Communities, the Administration’s focused effort to attract veterans to Iowa while providing them with great career opportunities and other benefits. In ceremonies held yesterday, the Governor joined community leaders in O’Brien County and Lyon County to recognize their efforts to become Home Base Iowa Communities

U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Reps. John Larson (D-1), Joe Courtney (D-2), Rosa DeLauro (D-3), and Elizabeth Esty (D-5)announced today that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded $836,688 to Connecticut rural small businesses and agricultural producers through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to help reduce energy usage and costs in their operations.

A newly designed website now makes the Community Investment Tax Credit program more accessible to individuals and businesses who want to contribute to revitalization projects in Maryland neighborhoods.

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) Terwilliger Center for Housing has awarded the Robert C. Larson Workforce Housing Policy Award to the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority’s (CHFA) Small Multifamily Rental Development Strategy. The award recognizes exemplary state and local programs, policies, and practices that support the production, rehabilitation, or preservation of affordable and workforce housing. The Palm Beach County Workforce Housing Program also received the Larson Award.

The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) today issued the Community Resilience Planning Guide for Buildings and Infrastructure Systems to help U.S. communities better withstand and rebound from the shocks of severe weather, earthquakes and other hazards.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that WrightGrid, the leading provider of solar-powered charging stations for mobile devices, has installed two WrightGrid Model Z charging stations at City Hall Plaza, providing Boston's residents and visitors with free, secure, and sustainable charging. The announcement builds on the Mayor's commitment to establishing City Hall Plaza as a more welcoming and vibrant space.