Route Fifty
U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Appeal of California Ruling on Lead Paint Remediation
A coalition of cities and counties sued manufacturers under the state’s “public nuisance” law. They have won a $400 million fund to help treat housing.
Management
SBA Shrugs Off Report That House Majority Leader's In-Law May Have Misused Small Business Contracts
Brother of McCarthy’s wife won $7 million in suspect set-asides for Native American firms, investigative report finds.
Route Fifty
Flu Season May Last Longer in Large Urban Areas, Study Says
But smaller cities can have more intense outbreaks of the flu, researchers found.
Nextgov
No Easy Fix for Silicon Valley Angst About Government Contracts
CBP’s acquisitions chief urges patience, understanding over protests against border contracts.
Management
Former Trump Cabinet Member: Chaos a 'Pretty Accurate' Way to Describe Administration
Official says that by comparison, Obama White House was a "well-run" machine.
Management
A New $60 Billion Agency Is The Clearest Sign The U.S. Is Worried About China’s Africa Influence
China is not trying “to help countries out, they’re in it to grab their assets,” a Trump official says. The U.S. program aims to stabilize economies instead.
Defense
Watchdog Faults FBI Staff for Mishandling Secret Report on U.K. Terrorist Attack
Efforts to trace emails to find leak to New York Times come up dry.
Nextgov
FBI Drops Full and Open Competition for $5 Billion IT Recompete
The bureau will turn to GSA’s schedules to fill out its IT Supplies and Support Services contract.
Management
For The Sleep-Deprived, Small Distractions Can Have Dire Results
A new study pinpoints just how much distractions hinder memory for sleep-deprived people, which can keep them from successfully completing tasks.
Tech
Hubble’s Hardware Woes and the Painful Era of Aging Spacecraft
Four of NASA’s most recognizable missions are in “safe mode” or unable to communicate with Earth.
Defense
President Trump Just Called Jim Mattis ‘Sort of a Democrat’
Trump’s description in a testy 60 Minutes interview doesn’t bode well for the defense secretary’s longevity in the Trump cabinet after the midterms.
Oversight
The Backlash to New Rules on Protests in D.C.
The National Park Service is considering restrictions on demonstrations around the White House and the National Mall.
Nextgov
IARPA Wants to Identify Criminals From Their Skin Cells
The goal isn’t to replace DNA analysis but rather add another technology to forensic analysts’ toolbox.
Management
Learning from Government’s Past to Anticipate Its Future
A new book assesses the long arc of government reform.
Oversight
Play of the Day: Kanye West Visits The White House
The rapper and President Donald Trump had a meeting and it went just about as expected.
Route Fifty
As Sears Declares Bankruptcy, Sites of Shuttered Stores Present Economic Development Challenges
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Minnesota data breach … Fresno officials scoff at proposed e-scooter fines … and N.Y.C. pension funds warm up to de Blasio divestment plan.
Route Fifty
How a Midsize U.S. City Is Preparing to Host One of the World’s Largest Sporting Events
The IAAF track-and-field world championships are still three years away. Local officials in Eugene, Oregon may be “slightly nervous” but are embracing an “opportunity to really shine.”
Management
For Remote Workers, Virtual Body Language Really Matters
Remote workers don’t have a physical presence, but they still send signals through the way they make themselves “seen” at work.
Defense
In Pacific, U.S. Army Shifts Training from Disaster Relief to War
The change reflects Trump’s defense strategy and rising threats from China and North Korea.
Route Fifty