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Labor activists eager to capitalize on the pro-worker sentiment fueled by the pandemic will soon have a friend in the White House.

The outlook continues to be clouded by COVID-19 but a team of University of Michigan economists sees encouraging signs that could bring economic life close to normal by the end of 2021.

As many as a third of remote workers who move to a cheaper place to live during the pandemic could end up getting a pay cut that offsets any savings, Willis Towers Watson found in a survey released Thursday.

COVID has interrupted much of the island’s and the world’s economic activity. What it has not interrupted was this years’ fifth annual HIplan Business Plan Competition, finals of which were held virtually on Oct 24. HIplan’s goal is to help stimulate the development of an entrepreneurial ecosystem on Hawaii Island. It does this, in part, through sponsoring an annual Business Plan Competition, where 35 entrepreneurs this year were judged on their ability to communicate their business plans in various ways: in writing in round one, and then verbally in rounds two and three, taking the finalists down to a group of eight.

Brian Contreras represents the worst fears of the lucrative business travel industry.

WASHINGTON — Only a few of America’s CEOs have made public statements about President Donald Trump’s refusal to accept his election loss, but in private, many are alarmed and talking about what collective action would be necessary if they see an imminent threat to democracy.

The U.S. economy bounced back with a record yet temporary surge of growth in the third quarter as businesses reopened and stimulus cash powered consumer spending — reversing much of the collapse stemming from coronavirus lockdowns.

Environmentally conscious travelers are in a quandary.

Readers of this column have seen me go on about the Hawaii Island building permit process on more than one occasion. Bottom line: it’s a problem. It’s a problem for contractors, it’s a problem for businesses looking to expand or start, and it’s a problem for homeowners.