The U.S. Postal Service has lost about $2.5 billion since the early 1980s delivering goods to Alaskas remote villages. The program, called the Alaska Bypass, was created in part to help curb the otherwise high cost of shipping groceries to Alaska Natives. Critics say the savings are not passed on to customers and are pressing for a lower postal subsidy.

HOOPER BAY, Alaska In the soggy, unforgiving tundra on the shores of the Bering Sea, Royala Bell defrosts a rack of beef ribs for dinner in a kitchen that doubles as a bedroom for six of her seven children.

A dead owl lies on the floor, ready for her husband, Carlton, to defeather it for a headdress. Fish dry on a line out back, for the larder in winter. On a small counter are some of the groceries the Bells consume from the Lower 48: Sailor Boy Pilot Bread, potatoes, Kool-Aid, Aunt Jemima pancake mix and a can of Coca-Cola.

The U.S. Postal Service paid to ship the items on a turboprop bush plane to this small settlement of Yupik Indians on Alaskas western edge. The Bells brought them home on the back of their all-terrain vehicle from Hooper Bays only grocery store. The 12-pack of Coke alone cost the Postal Service $21 to get here.

Under a federal program exclusive to Alaska, the Postal Service is responsible for shipping more than 100million pounds a year of apples, frozen meat, dog food, diapers and countless other consumer items to off-road villages in the sparsely populated outposts known as the bush. Over three decades acting as freight forwarder, the agency has lost $2.5billion.

In many ways, the Alaska Bypass, as its called, keeps Hooper Bay and 100 other isolated villages in rural Alaska afloat. But groceries do not come cheap for Royala Bell, 43, and her neighbors, most of whom, like her family, survive on food stamps and federal subsidies.

I think the food is too, too high, the slight Yupik woman said of the prices at the Alaska Commercial store here, stretching her hands wide like an accordion. It takes about $200 for a little tiny amount of groceries.

Rural Alaskans are not the only ones paying a steep price. The system cost the Postal Service $77.5million last year, agency officials said, with ordinary stamp-buying customers covering the tab, while a long line of commercial interests here benefited, from the airline and shipping industries to rural grocery chains.

Retailers pay the Postal Service about half of what it would cost them to ship the goods commercially; the subsidy allows them to charge a hefty markup on a can of Coke, for example, in some cases 30percent or more. The agency, by law, must pay private air carriers well above market rates in the only corner of the country where airline prices are still regulated.

In the name of families such as the Bells, the late senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) pushed an earmark through Congress 33 years ago aimed at helping his constituents back home. But today, the Postal Service is going broke. On Capitol Hill, this is the kind of federal spending lawmakers in Washington have said they will swear off in a time of austerity.

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U.S. Postal Service losing tens of millions annually subsidizing shipments to Alaska

Drywall Installation: Applying the 2nd Coat of Joint Compound
When the first coat of joint compound is dry, use taping knives to apply a second coat of mud over the joints and fasteners in your PURPLE drywall.

By: Ask for PURPLE

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Drywall Installation: Applying the 2nd Coat of Joint Compound - Video

Published: Saturday, June 28, 2014 at 9:16 p.m. Last Modified: Saturday, June 28, 2014 at 9:16 p.m.

Thats where owners of local businesses from masonry contractors to lighting distributors met with the projects general contractor to get details on how their companies might get a slice of the $400 million pie.

That initiative by general contractor Barton Malow and the Speedway to reach out to local businesses has paid off.

Since breaking ground nearly a year ago, the Daytona Rising project has created nearly 2,000 construction jobs and provided work for 80 Volusia County firms, either as subcontractors or vendors, said Lenny Santiago, a spokesman for the Speedway. He said he wasnt aware of any Flagler County companies involved in the project.

The renovation of the tracks nearly mile-long frontstretch is expected to accelerate immediately following Saturdays Coke Zero 400 race, with the average number of daily on-site workers expected to increase to at least 800, in rotating shifts, up from 500 earlier this month.

Well kick back into construction mode in high gear, said Santiago.

Officials with the Speedway and Barton Malow view the next several months until early January, when race car testing for 2015 Speedweeks is scheduled to begin, as a big window for workers to make a lot of progress on the project, Santiago said.

All told, Daytona Rising is forecast to create more than 6,300 jobs, both directly and in-directly over the course of its 2-year construction.

Area companies involved in the project range from concrete pavers to electrical firms and landscapers. They include suppliers such as Kingspan Insulated Panels, which is manufacturing the skin that will cover the Speedways renovated frontstretch at its plant in DeLand, and subcontractors such as AW Baylor Versapanel Plastering, an Ormond Beach-based assembler and installer of panels and drywall.

The Daytona Rising project which will add new fan entrances, more comfortable seating, more eateries and other amenities is scheduled to be completed by January 2016, but area business leaders say its impact as a driver of the local economy is already being felt.

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Volusia companies playing key roles in Speedway renovation

City officials may relax zoning codes to lessen paving requirements for properties that dont connect to city streets.

The Union Planning and Zoning Board Monday recommended that the city no longer require a homeowner to pave their driveway before receiving a building permit if the driveway connects to an unpaved private street or state highway.

A discussion to change the code was prompted by a deannexation request by Ronald and Mary Hartzell, who live on the southern edge of the city of Highway 47 south, north of Meade Farm Road.

The Hartzells are building a new home on the property where they have lived for more than 30 years. Under the current ordinance, they would be required to pave their driveway before a building permit could be issued.

Ronald Hartzell told planning board members that his driveway is about 250 feet long.

Mayor Mike Livengood said the paving code was implemented because unpaved roads can cause damage to infrastructure.

He added that Hartzells driveway is not connected to Union streets, and not damaging the roadway.

It is really not dumping onto city streets, said Livengood.

City Administrator Russell Rost added that the citys concern is to maintain its streets.

I dont know that the intent of our ordinance is to address state highways, Rost said.

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Plan Board Proposes Paving Code Change Relaxes Code for Some

Century Crunch 57-hour Bridge Demolition Press Event Century and Aviation Boulevard
The last weekend in July, Los Angeles will experience a 57-hour road closure -- this one for demolition of a bridge spanning Century Boulevard near the airpo...

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Solar Decathlon 2014 : Home with a skin, an alternative to demolition
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Resogun Heroes DLC Demolition Mode
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Resogun Heroes DLC Demolition Mode - Video

CHARLESTON, WV -

Demolition of the above ground storage tanks on Freedom Industries property was slated to start Monday. However, the plans are being put on hold once again after crews discovered asbestos.

Now many, like Sharon Martin, are asking when the tanks are coming down.

I just get tired of hearing about it over and over. And it seems like they're not doing anything really to take care of the problem, she said.

According to Kelley Gillenwater, a spokeswoman for the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Freedom must remove the asbestos before the company proceeds with the tank demolition.

Its another roadblock and another headache for Martin, who lives just down the street from Freedom.

I think enough is enough, they should go ahead and do what they need to do, she said.

In an email, Freedoms Chief Restructuring Officer Mark Welch said it should not exceed $30,000 to remove asbestos and should be completed in about two weeks. He also said there are about 600 pieces to remove, including gaskets and some liners.

Once the abatement is completed, Welch said the demolition will begin. It is estimated to take four to six weeks. Ten tanks will be knocked down and three will remain to hold runoff water during the remainder of the cleanup.

It is still unknown how much the entire demolition will cost until the tanks are torn down and samples are taken from the ground.

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Freedom Industries demolition delayed by asbestos

Its been an exceptionally busy week for the builders participating in the 31st Annual HBA Parade of Homes and theyre looking forward to a strong finish with homes open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Sunday.

Since location is one of the most important decisions people make when shopping for a new home, its important to compare them as carefully as you compare houses. Sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Northwest Indiana, this years scattered site event featuring 37 homes allows you to see and compare whats new in some of the most dynamic cities and towns throughout the region.

Along with touring different areas where you will have the opportunity to meet some of the neighbors, learn more about the local government, public service, education and day care, police and fire protection, parks and recreation, medical facilities and places of worship, as well as get a feel for the distance to work, schools and shopping,

The parade is also the perfect opportunity to ask the experts about other locations suitable for the new home of your dreams. All of the participating builders have experience in multiple locations, with many offering homes in a variety of locations as well as the opportunity to build on the site of your choice.

When it comes to making your new home your own, building from the ground up allows you to make it your own every step of the way from site selection to choosing the contemporary floor plan and finishes that work best for you. If youre hoping to move a bit sooner than the timetable for building from scratch allows, you can still enjoy all the benefits of new construction, starting with a home where no one has ever lived before you. Everything is clean and brand newfrom state-of-the-art building technologies and materials that offer better-than-ever long-term quality and energy efficiency (youll be saving money from day one on utility bills)to the peace of mind as you settle in thanks to a new home and product warranties that protect you during the first year and beyond.

Visit the Parade of Homes builders this weekend to see all your new homes options from new homes that are complete and ready to move in to new homes in various stages of construction that offer some opportunities for personalization and the ability to move sooner than building from the ground up, which allows you to work closely with the builder to create every aspect of your new space. Whichever way you choose, you can rest assured there will be no unexpected surprises when you choose a builder who you feel comfortable with and keeps you informed every step of the way!

Look for these Parade of Homes builders in new home communities throughout the following cities and towns:

Cedar Lake

McFarland Homes

Monastery Woods - Summit paired ranch home

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Last chance to tour and discover the ideal location for your new home

New York, NY (PRWEB) June 28, 2014

The Countertop Manufacturing industry makes horizontal work surfaces used in kitchens, food preparation areas, bathrooms and workrooms. Countertops produced by industry operators incorporate a variety of materials, such as marble, granite and other natural stone, as well as wood, laminate, concrete, crafted glass and tile.

In the five years to 2014, the industry benefited from improving employment, rising disposable incomes and historically low interest rates, which spurred a rise in residential construction. According to IBISWorld Industry Analyst David Yang, residential construction and private spending on home improvements largely drive demand for the Countertop Manufacturing industry, as countertops are commonly installed in new homes and during kitchen renovations. Additionally, an increase in mortgage refinances and bank lending made more credit available for the remodeling of existing homes, further boosting countertop replacement sales. To a lessor extent, industry revenue is also driven by commercial construction activity, as countertops are installed in buildings that require cafeterias and kitchens. Therefore, a rise in private nonresidential construction aided industry sales as well during the past five years. From 2009 through 2014, these factors helped contribute to an expected annualized industry revenue growth rate of 5.7% to $5.1 billion, which includes a 7.1% increase in 2014 alone.

Going forward, this upward trend will continue as industry sales are expected to return to prerecessionary levels, driven by a steady rise in residential construction and private spending on home improvements, says Yang. A shift in consumer preferences to more expensive countertop materials, such as engineered stone and recycled glass, should also enhance industry revenue, which is expected to increase in the five years to 2019.

The Countertop Manufacturing industry exhibits a low market share concentration, as the industry's largest player accounts for barely more than 5.0% of industry revenue. The remainder of the market is captured by small businesses that serve local and regional markets.

For more information, visit IBISWorlds Countertop Manufacturing in the US industry report page.

Follow IBISWorld on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/IBISWorld. Friend IBISWorld on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/IBISWorld/121347533189.

IBISWorld industry Report Key Topics

The Countertop Manufacturing industry primarily cuts, shapes and finishes countertops for kitchens and food preparation areas. These countertops are made out of wood, laminate, solid surface (e.g. acrylic and polyester blends), tile and stone (e.g. granite, marble, and limestone).

Industry Performance Executive Summary Key External Drivers Current Performance Industry Outlook Industry Life Cycle Products & Markets Supply Chain Products & Services Major Markets Globalization & Trade Business Locations Competitive Landscape Market Share Concentration Key Success Factors Cost Structure Benchmarks Barriers to Entry Major Companies Operating Conditions Capital Intensity Key Statistics Industry Data Annual Change Key Ratios

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The Countertop Manufacturing in the US Industry Market Research Report Has Been Updated by IBISWorld