Texas road construction workers die at a higher rate than in any other state, and some believe it's because contractors aren't held accountable for accidents.

Over a seven-year period ending in 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 143 deaths at Texas road construction sites.

Josephine Lee, a reporter with the Texas Observer, investigated last year's death of Juan Simental from a fall while helping build a new toll road. The contractor had been hired by the Texas Department of Transportation or TxDOT. She said Texas is among states that allow private companies to operate under their own safety plan.

"TxDOT kept awarding contracts to the same equity group and its subsidiaries and so, they've made millions from Texas highways, but while they were doing it the injuries kept on racking up," she explained.

The AFL-CIO says over the last 50 years, there has been significant progress toward improving working conditions and protecting workers. But now, that progress is challenged as employers' opposition to workers' rights and protections has grown and attacks on unions have intensified.

Texas has more than 50 toll roads, and private contractors are building more. In public-private partnerships, design, construction, operation and maintenance is handed over to the for-profit entity. That also allows private firms to charge drivers high tolls, and many drivers avoid using the pricey roads.

Transportation activist Terri Hall has been organizing against toll roads since 2001.

"They call them 'privatized' toll roads, but they really are backed by the taxpayer, and when the traffic doesn't show up, it's going to be you and I that take the hit for that, not the company," Hall asserted. "And they've put very little of their own money at risk on these deals."

Lee notes that OSHA is not a preventive agency, and typically only investigates a construction fatality, not injuries. She believes Texas' policy of allowing private companies to report injuries themselves is highly-problematic because they are also concerned about their bottom line.

"How often is the state going out to investigate? You know, are they keeping their safety records, especially when there are debilitating injuries and hospitalizations and especially deaths?" she asked.

Following its investigation of Simental's death, OSHA elected not to fine the contractor, and levied only a $5,000 fine against the subcontractor, noting federal safety standards had been violated.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has frozen millions in grant dollars awarded by the Biden administration, leaving those counting on them in limbo.

Powell County, Montana was set to receive more than $6.3 million for its Parks to Passes project, a collaboration with neighboring groups and governments to close gaps in a pedestrian and biking corridor spanning roughly 230 miles between Butte and the Idaho border. The trail is part of the larger Great American Rail-Trail route.

Kevin Mills, vice president of policy for the Rails to Trails Conservancy, said the eventual coast-to-coast trail will stretch 3,700 miles from Washington, D.C., to Washington state.

"It's really stalling an important connection in that nationwide trail," Mills pointed out. "That puts at risk Montana's potential to tap into what we've calculated to be $16 million in new economic development."

The grant was part of President Joe Biden's Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Biden administration delayed construction with, quote, "leftist social requirements" including the consideration of a project's climate change and social justice impacts.

In addition to economic and climate benefits, effective trail corridors improve safety. Mills noted 9,000 pedestrians and cyclists die on roads each year in the U.S. and 130,000 more are injured.

"This is a problem that's really grown over the last decade because we don't really provide safe places to walk and bike," Mills explained. "These federal grants that are on hold are sorely needed to make the situation better."

In Montana, he added, about $200 million in grants have been frozen, including $10 million for trail projects.

New data show Arizona's two largest airports have fared well for on-time departures and arrivals but the same cannot be said about U.S. airlines in general.

Air travelers filed about 67,000 complaints last year, up 9% from 2023, according to a new report from the Public Interest Research Group Education Fund. The top grievances were cancellations and delays, not receiving refunds and luggage being lost or damaged.

Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog director for the group's Arizona education fund, said the number of travelers was expected to increase by about 7% this year but economic uncertainty and concerns from international travelers has curbed it. She noted Delta, Southwest and United have all indicated they will cut their number of flights in the months ahead.

"Then you throw in the safety issue," Murray added. "We don't have any way of knowing -- and I don't think the airlines really know for sure -- what to expect in the months ahead, although it is certainly expected that maybe we won't see a 7% increase in passengers this year."

Murray pointed out travelers have more rights this year than they did a year ago. For instance, complaints about refunds and delays prompted action from Congress on an FAA reauthorization bill, which mandates airlines to issue fast, no-hassle refunds if a flight is canceled for any reason. Online, people can visit pirg.org/flighttips for more information.

Murray noted overall, cancellations and delays across the nation increased last year. Just this week, Newark Airport saw many delays and cancellations after the FAA issued a ground stop following an outage at one of its air traffic control facilities. Murray argued flyers need to be in the know and on alert about where they are flying through.

"Pay attention to the news," Murray urged. "Because there are going to be other hot spots where, because of the air traffic control shortages and because of equipment, there may be some airports that are just a little bit more headache-inducing than what we've seen."

Murray realizes some are on edge about the current state of the airline industry but emphasized being courteous and respectful to fellow passengers and airline representatives goes a long way.

A new report shows housing and transportation are key factors that can keep young professionals from leaving Nebraska for opportunities elsewhere. Better pay is also near the top of the list.

To counter the brain drain happening across much of the Midwest, the City Of Omaha has launched a brain gain initiative, trying keep the state's young, professional talent in Nebraska.

Omaha Chamber of Commerce Director of Workforce Development Merrick Brtek said they did a survey to find out why young people are leaving.

"One of the reasons was job opportunities - that they were seeking job opportunities elsewhere," said Brtek. "Maybe they had their first career role here and were looking to advance, and they found an advancement role in another state."

Brtek said the city is helping young professionals understand that many of the priorities they're looking for elsewhere, including those advancement opportunities, already exist in Nebraska.

She added that Omaha is working to address the things that could be better, like creating more access to reliable mass transit, availability of affordable housing and higher wages.

Brtek said economic development teams are also shifting their focus to the younger demographic, trying to dispel the perception that good opportunities don't exist in Nebraska.

"We're trying to spend time working with kiddos that are a little bit younger, maybe high school students or college students, to make sure they're aware of the opportunities that are available," said Brtek. "Not just in Omaha but in the state of Nebraska to keep talent here, as well."

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau show Nebraska has been consistency losing population for the last 15 years, though some larger communities are seeing growth, mostly immigrants relocating from other countries.