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The National Labor Relations Board recently issued a ruling that changes the long-held definition of joint employers. The decision expands the current standard, which requires an employer to actually exercise the authority to control, to a broader definition that also includes indirect and potential control over working conditions. This could include practices of hiring, firing, discipline, supervision and direction

Earlier this summer KCHBA joined the national coalition “United for Patent Reform” in support of federal patent trolling legislation. Patent trolls, which bring frivolous lawsuits against businesses while not actually manufacturing anything themselves, cost the economy billions both indirectly and directly each year. They send threatening letters asserting patent infringement claims with the goal of collecting large settlements. Patent trolls are hurting home builders and other Main Street businesses across the region. For example, they have sued home builders for using fans to dry out a house frame or scanning documents to their computers.

Local builders took out permits for 433 single family homes during June, the highest June number since 2007, according to the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City’s (HBA) monthly Residential Building Permit Statistics report. With 433 single family permits issued during June, the year-to-date total for 2015 is 2,148. Multi-family construction continues to grow as June recorded 120 units making a year-to-date total of 1,528.