Public Sector Hiring Scrutiny: Washington Sen. Mark Schoesler is questioning why the state Department of Natural Resources is trying to fill a six-figure “Director for Equity, Environmental Justice, and Civil Rights” role while agencies are being asked to propose spending reductions. Workforce Development Partnerships: Butler Community College and Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital opened a new healthcare training facility with simulation space, patient rooms, and equipment funded via a Carl Perkins Reserve grant—aimed at hands-on training, job-shadowing, and career exploration. Mental Health Staffing Expansion: Chenango County is set to consider a state-funded full-time Assisted Outpatient Treatment coordinator to oversee court-ordered care under Kendra’s Law, with duties spanning care coordination, outreach, and provider and housing support. Local Job Matching Event: The Wetzel-Tyler Chamber of Commerce is inviting employers and workforce partners to a Job & Resource Fair on Sept. 30 at West Virginia Northern Community College’s New Martinsville campus. Labor Market Signals: Nipissing saw a sharp July jump in job postings (839), driven largely by healthcare hiring and higher employer participation, with more postings requesting bilingual candidates and criminal record checks. Insider Hiring/Immigration Ops: EB3.Work updated employers on PERM processing timelines, citing a 336-day August average and discussing a pending proposal for optional faster processing. Employer Compliance Guidance: Alabama’s Department of Revenue issued guidance clarifying when nonresident and traveling employees trigger Alabama income tax withholding, including a 30-day safe harbor rule. Big Cuts/Restructuring Watch: Uber announced layoffs affecting about 10% of staff, the biggest cuts since COVID.