Four South Carolina firms have named to Engineering News-Record's annual Top 500 Design Firms list: The highest ranking firm from the Palmetto State is Charleston-based LS3P, which came in at 195 on the ENR list, a drop from 2018's 177. The next highest was ESP Associates in Fort Mill, ranking 256 this year after 2018's 270 spot. Columbia's Infrastructure Consulting & Engineering leaped from a 353 position in 2018 to 286 this year. The Greenville firm of McMillan Pazdan Smith came in at 290, a slight fall from 288 in 2018. --Chris Haire

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U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) has called for the unionization of Boeing South Carolina workers: Following last week's New York Times raising concerns about alleged safety issues and an alleged retaliatory workplace culture at the Boeing 787 Dreamliner plant in North Charleston, Sen. Brown issued a statement in which he argued that unionization would "change Boeing’s corporate culture" and help "improve product safety."

In a letter to Boeing, Brown wrote, "I read with great concern The New York Times’ recent reporting on safety concerns in the 787 Dreamliner production line. I was particularly troubled by the company’s repeated practice of ignoring, harassing, or firing employees who raised safety issues during production."

He added, "Instead of creating a corporate culture where potential safety violations must be reported quickly and processed carefully, multiple former plant employees said they were intimidated, harassed, ignored, or even terminated for raising production quality concerns."

"Your employees are critical to producing high-quality, safe planes, and they should be included in decisions regarding production quality and timing," Brown wrote. "Union representation would facilitate a productive exchange between workers and management and would ensure workers are protected from retaliation when they raise concerns about the production process."

While the Times focused on Boeing South Carolina, an earlier report from Defense One alleged that Boeing's Everett, Wash., site had produced planes for the Air Force in which "tools and parts" had been left inside the aircraft, a potential safety hazard. --Chris Haire

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MUSC’s 5th Annual Spring Social Work Conference: Presented by MUSC’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Office of Continuing Education, this conference covers how to effectively educate and practice psychiatry and behavioral sciences in a world of seemingly constant tumult.

Taking place on May 3, 2019 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the MUSC Baruch Auditorium, the conference will be a full day of education and networking as it addresses issues and teaches techniques that will inspire resilience, elevate personal practice, and provide hands-on strategies to implement with clients.

The South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners will approve approximately 6.5 hours of designated credit.

To register, visit https://education.musc.edu/colleges/medicine/departments/psychiatry/cecar/ce/conferences/social-work or call 843-792-0175. Tickets are $150 for providers, $120 for MUSC providers, $120 for retirees, and $70 for students and trainees.

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Despite 'no' vote on state offices, $1B redevelopment of County Square proceeds (Greenville News)

Towering History: Glendale Mill site up for sale (Herald-Journal)

South Carolina high school takes the top spot in US News & World Report 2019 ranking (The State)

Tax increase and teacher raise are in Greenville County school district's proposed budget (Greenville News)

ZF and BMW ink deal worth billions (Upstate Business Journal)

What would a growing Horry County look like without a planning and zoning department? (Myrtle Beach Sun News)

York Tech nursing program among best in South Carolina. Here’s where it ranked. (Rock Hill Herald)

Charleston catering is a career of chaos. Here are 7 revelations from inside the industry. (Post and Courier)

Viewpoint: Why is Opportunity Zones investment off to a slow start? (SC Biz)

BB&T chief preaches change at shareholders meeting in Charleston (Post and Courier)

Post Office Boss Ponders Cutting Mail Delivery to Five Days. Congress Balks. (WSJ)

Hospital charges $67,957 for 4 vials of antivenin after snakebite: 6 things to know (Becker's Hospital Review)

What Neuroscience Can Teach Us About the Mascots We Love and Hate (Ad Age)

‘Big and bold push’ for increased infrastructure spending in Washington (Logistics Management)

DOL Opinion Letter Finds Gig Economy Service Providers to Be Independent Contractors (National Law Review)

ESPN the Magazine Will Stop Publishing Print Edition in September (Sports Illustrated)

Meet the fake people who will soon crowd your timelines (Fast Company)

SCE&G, PSNC Energy Customers Will See New Company Name

50 Most Influential
Pierre Manigault

Evening Post Industries

Chairman

As chairman of the Evening Post Industries, which publishes the Charleston Post and Courier, Manigault oversees dissemination of the area news. He co-founded and is an owner of the popular magazine Garden and Gun, launched in 2007. In addition to his corporate work, Manigault is also involved in several nonprofits. He is also a founding trustee and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the American College of the Building Arts. He is also a member of the College of Charleston's School of Business Board of Governors, a trustee of the Middleton Place Foundation and a trustee of Magnolia Cemetery.