News — Arizona

Expanded college construction program fills labor gaps in Northern Arizona A year ago, students of construction trades at Coconino Community College worked in cramped outdated quarters. Labor-strapped construction companies snatched them up upon graduation, or before. Like much of the state, northern Arizona is seeing a construction industry on the rise. But qualified workers have long been in short supply. “It’s challenging with our students trying to fit a schedule,” said Jeff Jones, dean of career and technical education (CTE) at the college. “Many are in evening classes so they can work at entry level during day and increase their skills at...

Pentagon awards first military-funded contracts for border fence in New Mexico and Arizona Construction of a new $73.3 million border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border in Santa Teresa, N.M., began Monday after an official groundbreaking of what officials called the “president’s border wall.” RUBEN R. RAMIREZ/EL PASO TIMES The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded the first two contracts that will use military funds to pay for the construction of additional fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border as part of President Donald Trump's emergency declaration. The two contracts awarded Tuesday are worth an estimated $976 million and cover three separate projects...