NEWS BRIEFS Headlines and a short synopsis of items are shown. Enter the link in your browser for details. The Dodge Momentum Index surged in November. This report for nonresidential buildings in planning climbed 13.9% to 149.5 (2000=100) from the revised October reading of 131.3. This is the second month of gains after four months of softness. http://bit.ly/2BTJJEa MIA and BSI voted 565 to 25 to authorize a merger of North America’s two most prominent stone associations. Effective January 1, 2018, the combined association is formally known as the Natural Stone Institute. http://bit.ly/2BCpUoT AGC: Construction spending hits record in October; public, private segments vary widely. Spending totaled $1.241 trillion at a seasonally adjusted annual rate in October, a record level before adjusting for inflation, 1.4% high- er than in September, and 2.9% higher than the October 2016 rate, according to the Census Bureau. Year-to-date (YTD) spend- ing for the first 10 months of 2017 combined was 4.1% higher than in January-October 2016. http://bit.ly/2kVXij8 Braxton-Bragg has named Rick Stimac CEO following Rich Hassert’s retirement. http://bit. ly/2BVBrLR AGC on Senate tax bill: temporary tax cuts and lack of infra- structure support cre- ate concerns. Stephen E. Sandherr, AGC CEO, issued a state- ment that praises the rate reduction in the Senate bill for pass-through entities to 17.4% from the current 23%, but is concerned about the temporary nature of the cut and lack of infrastructure support. http:// bit.ly/2z23WJl Artisan Tile NW recently held its successful 2017 Handmade Tile Festival in Seattle. Artisan Tile NW is a non-profit handmade tile mak- ers group dedicated to the creation, promotion and preservation of the art and craft of handmade tile. This 12th annual festival is designed to raise public awareness about the range and diversity of artisan tiles being produced in the Northwest. http://bit.ly/2AKmlJL Construction employment increas- es in 243 metro areas between October 2016 and 2017, declined in 59 and stagnated in 56 areas, according to a new analysis of federal employment data recently released by the AGC. Association officials said the best way to ensure metro areas continue to add construction jobs is to treatsmallandmedium-sizedemploy- ers more fairly and include new infra- structure funding as part of federal tax reform. http://bit.ly/2B52V4G 130 TileLetter | January 2018