Buttigieg would like ‘bold’ improvements in transportation and a lot more enterprise news

Buttigieg desires ‘bold’ modifications in transportation

Pete Buttigieg, sworn in Wednesday as transportation secretary, urged his 55,000 workforce to embrace “imaginative, bold, forward considering” as the Transportation Section embarks on a mission to rebuild America’s infrastructure and foster equality.

“We will continue on to prioritize protection as the basis of almost everything we do,” Buttigieg stated in his electronic mail concept, which was obtained by The Affiliated Push. “And at the exact same time, we will break new ground: in ensuring that our financial system recovers and rebuilds, in growing to the weather problem, and in making confident transportation is an engine for fairness in this state.”

Praised by President Joe Biden as bringing a “new voice” to the administration, Buttigieg has pledged to swiftly get to perform selling safety and restoring client believe in in America’s transportation networks as airlines, buses, town subway systems and Amtrak reel from plummeting ridership in the coronavirus pandemic. He also is predicted to play an crucial purpose in advertising and marketing Biden’s inexperienced initiatives, supporting the president’s drive afterwards this calendar year on a $2 trillion local climate and infrastructure prepare that would rebuild roads and bridges and expand zero-emission mass transit even though boosting electric powered car or truck infrastructure.

Georgia transferring to lengthen lawsuit ban

Georgia lawmakers wrangled for months past 12 months right before determining to protect firms and other individuals from becoming sued if another person blames them for contracting COVID-19. On Wednesday, a state Home committee agreed in a five-moment meeting to renew that security for one more year with no debate.

Members of the Dwelling Specific Committee on Entry to the Civil Justice Process innovative Property Bill 112 to the comprehensive House for extra debate on a break up voice vote.

The evaluate would lengthen the protections to July 14, 2022. They now are established to expire July 14 of this yr.

Committee Chairman Trey Kelley, a Cedartown Republican who is sponsoring the monthly bill, reported the evaluate is becoming supported by essential organization lobbying teams as properly as the Georgia Demo Legal professionals Affiliation, which commonly signifies plaintiffs lawyers.

“We felt like there demands to be some safety in place for our businesses and venues that consider to maintain on their own open and try out to comply with the suggestions that have been place forth,” Kelley reported. “It’s vital that we keep our financial system open and our men and women operating.”

Services field bounces back again in 2021

The companies sector, where most Americans function, operated in January at the optimum degree in pretty much two a long time.

Action climbed to a looking through of 58.7% very last thirty day period on a seasonally modified basis, in accordance to a report Wednesday from the Institute for Source Management, up a full proportion issue from 57.7% in February. Any examining over 50 signals growth in the services sector.

It was the highest studying due to the fact February 2019, when the index hit 58.8%. January was the eighth straight month of expansion immediately after sharp spring declines as the worldwide pandemic broadsided the U.S. economic system.

There had been 14 industries reporting growth to get started the yr, led by the genuine estate sector. Only 4 industries contracted with the greatest declines in arts, amusement and recreation.

Anthony Nieves, chair of the ISM support enterprise study committee, mentioned that assistance companies at the second believe that 2021 will be a good yr.

“As prolonged as we will not get derailed by other variants of the virus, we need to sustain this expansion and the 2nd half of the yr will be superior than the to start with fifty percent,” he claimed.

Stuckey’s provides sweet making, pecan processing in-dwelling

ATLANTA — Atlanta-dependent Stuckey’s, the kitschy roadside retailer recognised for its pecan log rolls, bought a Ga manufacturing plant with programs to move some of the chain’s sweet-earning and pecan processing in-residence for the very first time in a long time.

Stephanie Stuckey, whose grandfather introduced the business enterprise in the 1930s, reported Tuesday that the acquisition of Atwell Pecan Co. and two related organizations will give the chain versatility to broaden its offerings and set its solutions in extra retailers, these as groceries and other massive chains. The get-togethers are retaining the selling price private.

The plant in Wrens, about 30 miles southwest of Augusta, employs about 100 people yr-spherical. Stuckey mentioned the operation, which involves a shelling facility, will make log rolls, pralines, divinity, fudge, cheese straws and an expanded line of flavored pecans for Stuckey’s and many others.

Mueller Water Goods experiences $16.7 million in earnings

ATLANTA — Mueller H2o Items Inc. on Wednesday reported fiscal to start with-quarter earnings of $16.7 million.

The Atlanta-based enterprise claimed it experienced internet money of 11 cents per share.

The outcomes defeat Wall Road anticipations. The common estimate of 5 analysts surveyed by Zacks Expenditure Investigate was for earnings of 8 cents per share.

The maker of fire hydrants, pipes and drinking water valves posted earnings of $237.4 million in the period, also surpassing Street forecasts. A few analysts surveyed by Zacks predicted $216.6 million.

Mueller H2o Goods shares have declined 1% given that the beginning of the yr. In the final minutes of buying and selling on Wednesday, shares hit $12.26, a increase of marginally more than 3% in the very last 12 months.

— Compiled by Dave Flessner