Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of Feb. 16.

Let's get started with project updates:

1. Bradbury Stamm Construction has been selected to build the new $167 million Eddy County Detention Facility in Carlsbad, N.M., with construction expected to start in April.
2. Renovation and expansion plans at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Horry County, S.C., could cost more than $130 million, according to preliminary designs from Moseley.
3. Construction of a new jail in Twin Falls County, Idaho, is underway and is expected to be complete by mid-2027, adding 160 beds at a cost between $20 million and $24 million.
4. An $18.8 million renovation project at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Riverhead, N.Y., will start soon, with most of the budget dedicated to overhauling the facility's kitchen.

Moving on to legislation and funding:

1. Kansas lawmakers are discussing whether to renovate the aging Hutchinson Correctional Facility or replace it with new construction, which could cost up to $750 million.
2. Trustees from the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority voted to advance a proposal for a sales tax increase to fund the rest of the new Oklahoma County Jail project.
3. Utah lawmakers are requesting $130 million in funding to add 768 new beds to expand the state's prison capacity.

Next, in people news:

1. The Delaware County Jail Oversight Board in Pennsylvania has appointed Willie Bonds as the warden of the George W. Hill Correctional Facility.

Moving on to construction reports:

1. Iredell County, N.C., has issued an RFQ to architecture and engineering firms for expansion and renovation work at the county's Hall of Justice, with bids due Feb. 27.
2. The New York State Office of General Services is seeking bids for perimeter detection and camera system replacements at the Wende Correctional Facility, with bids due March 4.
3. Runnels County, Texas has issued an RFQ for a construction manager at risk for upgrades at the county jail, with bids due March 10.

And wrapping up this week with events:

1. The International Corrections and Prisons Association's International Research in Corrections Conference will be held March 2–5 in Auckland, New Zealand.
2. The International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association's annual conference and expo will take place March 16–21 in St. Louis.
3. The Correctional Leaders Association Spring Deputy Directors and Probation and Parole Conference is scheduled for March 24–27, in Hilton Head, S.C..

For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.