As hearings into Duke Energy's surprise ousting of CEO William D. "Bill" Johnson wrapped up July 20, a pending repair project at the troubled Crystal River nuclear powerplant remained a leading suspect for the boardroom shake-up. However, it remained unclear whether the North Carolina Utilities Commission would examine the matter further. Photo from Progress Energy filing to Nuclear Regulatory Commission At recent hearings into Duke Energy's merger with Progress Energy, the impact of repair and insurance issues at the Crystal River nuclear plant remained a focus. Related Links: Bill Johnson: Duke Energy Fully Informed About Crystal River Duke's Secret Nuke

Gains in the building sectors pushed South Carolina’s May total for new contracts 28% higher than the same period of a year ago, according to McGraw-Hill Construction. The company estimated the state’s new contracts at $608.3 million, compared to last May’s $476.2-million tally. Photo by Shaw Group; courtesy SCANA Corp. At the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station project in Jenkinsville, S.C., the heavy lift derrick was constructed and underwent load testing while excavation began on the Unit 3 site. Related Links: North Carolina Sees All Sectors Move Up in May Nuke Project Boosts South Carolina Contracts in April The nonresidential category

Residential contracts surged in May, but Georgia’s other sectors fell significantly, resulting in a flat overall monthly total for new construction contracts, according to McGraw-Hill Construction. Photo courtesy Brasfield & Gorrie Through May, Georgia's nonresidential building sector is 18% behind 2011's pace. Pictured here: Perkins+Will's LEED platinum-rated new headquarters, built by Brasfield & Gorrie. Related Links: Georgia Contracts Tumble 11% in April Residential Gives Life to Florida Contracts in May Residential contracts totaled $390.7 million for the month, or 26% better than last May, according to McGraw-Hill. The nonresidential sector fell 14%, however, for a $426.5-million total. The nonbuilding category

Across-the-board improvement in all three of McGraw-Hill Construction’s main construction categories pushed North Carolina’s contracts total 33% higher than a year ago, according to the company. The jump represented nearly $1.6 billion in new contracts moving forward during the month. Photo courtesy Hermosa Construction Group Hermosa Construction Group recently completed its Blue Ridge Community Health Center project in Hendersonville, N.C. Related Links: North Carolina's Nonresidential Slump Continues in April In North Carolina and Florida, Talk of Toll Roads Heats Up The nonbuilding sector, which includes infrastructure projects, showed the biggest relative gain, recording nearly $325.3 million in new contracts during

A 70% surge in new residential projects overcame downturns in the other sectors to boost the overall value of Florida’s May construction contracts to nearly $2.2 billion, according to McGraw-Hill Construction. The total was a 19% improvement over the same period of a year ago. Image courtesy Plaza Construction Group Florida Plaza Construction of Miami recently started work expanding the Dadeland Mall, a project the contractor reports is valued at more than $100 million. Related Links: Florida Contracts Keep Building Momentum in April Funding Makes Long-Planned Wekiva Parkway Project a Reality For the month of May, McGraw-Hill recorded just over

Robert Alonso was promoted to the position of senior bridge engineer at Finley Engineering Group's Orlando office. He will be responsible for project management and staff supervision for complex bridge projects, with concentration on central and south Florida. He has more than six years of experience with design and project management. Related Links: Southeast People News ENR Southeast's Top 20 Under 40   HAMILTONDavid W. Hamilton was promoted to the position of executive vice president at Jacksonville, Fla.-based Elkins Constructors. Hamilton has been with Elkins for 23 years and previously served as project executive and vice president for commercial projects.

An ongoing public dispute between the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs and general contractor Brasfield & Gorrie over design changes and delays at a $616-million Orlando hospital project escalated recently when the agency notified the firm it had 10 days to deliver a new work plan or face termination. The contractor has been contending that the VA has been unrealistic about schedule in light of the extensive design revisions, but submitted a new project work plan. Photo courtesy Brasfield & Gorrie Veterans Affairs is reviewing a new project work plan submitted by general contractor Brasfield & Gorrie. Related Links: Health

Citing the "substantial likelihood" that Odebrecht Construction Inc. would prevail in its court action against the state of Florida's new law barring the awarding of contracts to firms with business ties to Cuba, U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore on June 25 issued a preliminary injunction preventing the measure from going into effect on July 1. Image courtesy Odebrecht Construction Odebrecht Construction is moving forward on its $800-million Airport City development project at Miami International Airport. Related Links: Odebrecht Sues State of Florida Over Anti-Cuba Law Anti-Cuba Law Poses Business Challenge for Odebrecht Gov. Scott's Signing of Anti-Cuba Law Ends

Odebrecht Construction has filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Florida over its new law that bars the awarding of public contracts to firms that have business interests in Cuba or Syria. Widely viewed as a specific target of the new state law, the Coral Gables, Fla.-based contractor asserts that the act is unconstitutional because it conflicts with federal law and attempts to enact foreign policy. Image courtesy Fla. Dept. of Transportation The new law would prevent Odebrecht Construction from further pursuing the $2.1-billion reconstruction of Interstate 4 through Orlando. Related Links: Florida's New Anti-Cuba Law Poses Business Challenge

Officially ending months of inter-agency negotiations over funding for the $1.7-billion Wekiva Parkway toll-road project near Orlando, Florida Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad in late May signed a memorandum of agreement with the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority, or OOCEA, that pushes the long-planned project one step closer to reality. Image courtesy Fla. Dept. of Transportation The Florida Dept. of Transportation and the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority will each separately manage various sections of the $1.7-billion project. Related Links: Orlando Toll Road Clears Hurdle Low on Gas Taxes, Florida Accelerates Contractor Financing The Florida Dept. of Transportation and OOCEA will each design,