Rick Geddes, professor and founding director of Cornell University’s Program in Infrastructure Policy, says that although the new infrastructure bill is a good step in the right direction, several changes are needed in infrastructure delivery to ensure the funds are well spent.

Law and Policy

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Starting Wednesday, workers at three Starbucks coffee shops in and around Buffalo, New York will have four weeks to vote on whether to unionize. Kate Bronfenbrenner says Starbucks has reason to be worried with Workers United leading the unionizing efforts. Cathy Creighton is also available for interviews.

Industrial and Labor Relations

Economics and Business

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As the U.S. reopens international borders to foreign travelers, airlines are bracing for congestion as the new rules are rolled out – this in addition to staffing issues that have caused operation complications for some carriers recently. Airline industry expert, Arthur Wheaton says the new requirements to travel internationally will bring frustration for travelers and an increased likelihood of conflict and confrontation.

Industrial and Labor Relations

Economics and Business

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Stephen Yale-Loehr, professor of immigration law at Cornell Law School and co-author of a leading 21-volume immigration law series, says the House bill’s immigration provisions, while more limited than originally proposed, would still be the most significant immigration legislation in decades.

Law and Policy

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On Nov. 3, the Federal Reserve announced it would begin reducing the pace of its monthly bond purchases, a step toward more normal monetary policy. Erica Groshen says tapering should raise long-term interest rates and that could increase demand for labor.

Economics and Business

Industrial and Labor Relations

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Felix Heisel, an architect focused on the systematic redesign of the built environment, and Timur Dogan, an energy modeling expert and director of the Environmental Systems Lab, are helping the City of Ithaca with a plan to decarbonize and electrify all buildings.

Energy, Environment & Sustainability

Architecture, Art and Planning

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The newly released Astro2020 decadal survey has ranked the projects the astronomer community wants to prioritize for the next 10 years. The 614-page NASA-sponsored report highlights the search for extraterrestrial life, as well as stressing the need for greater diversity among astronomy’s ranks.

Physical Sciences & Engineering

science

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Thousands of U.S. workers across numerous industries have participated in strikes and other labor actions this fall. The Cornell-ILR Labor Action Tracker provides a comprehensive database of strike and labor protest activity across the U.S. and these Cornell experts are available to speak to the increasing labor protest activity.

Labor Relations & Human Resources

Industrial and Labor Relations

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Eilyan Bitar, a renewable energy integration expert, comments on a new initiative aimed at creating a solar grid across the Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Energy, Environment & Sustainability

Engineering

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Workers at Deere & Company have rejected a contract proposal negotiated by their union for the second time, further extending their strike. Professor Harry Katz says workers have more bargaining power now and management at Deere have overestimated their power in the negotiations.

Industrial and Labor Relations

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