Around the Local

IBEW Weighs in on Senate Race

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/me/maine/politics/2026/03/09/union-asks-washington-democrats-to-stop-promoting-mills-over-platner-in-maine-senate-race

IBEW International Vice President Michael Monahan urges Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to stop promoting Gov. Janet Mills over Graham Platner in Maine Senate primary, citing Mills' fraught labor record

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The Former Coal Miner in the Middle of the Data Center Boom

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/09/business/nscale-ai-data-center-boom.html

Profile of Nscale founder Josh Payne, Australian former coal miner who raised $2 billion at $14.6B valuation for AI data center company, with Sheryl Sandberg joining board amid infrastructure boom

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Residents Move to Challenge Approval Vote

https://www.kmbc.com/article/independence-ai-data-center-referendum-petition/70597598

Residents opposing the approved AI data center in Independence are organizing a referendum petition drive to challenge the city council vote on the project.

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Unions, IBEW Ratify Largest Wage Increase in Ingalls Shipbuilding History

https://magnoliatribune.com/2026/03/12/unions-ratify-largest-single-wage-increase-in-ingalls-shipbuilding-history/

Workers at Ingalls Shipbuilding have ratified a new contract featuring the largest single wage increase in the shipyard's history, a milestone win for IBEW and affiliated unions.

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BlackRock Invests $100M on Trades Training, CEO Cites Skilled Worker Shortage

https://fortune.com/2026/03/11/blackrock-skilled-trade-worker-training-investment-100-million-dollars-electricans-plumbers-hvac-technicals-six-figure-salaries-stable-jobs-gen-z-larry-fink/

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink announces a $100 million investment in skilled trades training, citing a growing shortage of electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians as demand for six-figure blue-collar careers surges.

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