In partnership with

Tailored HR Software Recommendations for Your Organization

Choosing HR software can be overwhelming—with over 1,000+ tools on the market, it’s easy to spend days and still feel unsure.

That’s why thousands of HR teams rely on SSR’s HR software advisors. Instead of spending hundreds of hours on research and demos, you’ll get free 1:1 help from an HR software expert who understands your requirements and provides 2–3 tailored recommendations based on your unique needs.

Whether you're looking for an HRIS, ATS, or Payroll solution, we help you cut through the noise and make confident decisions—fast.

Why HR teams trust SSR HR Advisors:

✅ 100% free for HR teams
✅ Get 2-3 Tailored solutions from 1,000+ options
✅ 1:1 expert guidance from HR advisors
✅ Trusted by 15,000+ companies

From MIT to the Indianapolis Colts, smart HR teams trust SSR to find the right software—without the stress.

Get Your Free HR Software Matches

Together We Thrive

Helen Keller’s Guide for Leaders Who Turn Isolation to Unity, Amplify Voices, and Build Empowered Teams through True Shared Insight

I once discovered that walls of darkness tremble when voices unite, the moment another hand touched mine, obstacles shrank, and hidden corridors opened, scented with new air. Leadership begins with that touch: a quiet invitation to share strength, to trade solitude for chorus.

When we listen beyond our heartbeat, we meet unheard rhythms in companions. Invite them to share what only they perceive: the hush before dawn, the heat of unspoken hope. Their insights become ears for the sighted, eyes for the deaf, courage for the timid. Collaboration translates private worlds into a common language.

Ask now: Which barrier still stands because we lean upon it alone? Name it, join hands, press in concert until the stone remembers it was once sand. The wall will learn our harmony and yield passage. Celebrate then by lighting a lamp for travelers behind us, so another wandering soul dares to knock and enter. Progress resembles a chord: notes sustained together, resonant enough to move mountains, practice as prayer; repetition fortress; self-command banner.

Initiate one act of shared vision: ask a colleague for the strength you lack, offer yours back, and remove one small barrier before dusk returns.

First Solar Starts $1.1B Louisiana Panel Factory!!

First Solar breaks ground on $1.1B Lake Charles thin-film panel plant, adds 700 jobs, 3.5 GW capacity, and America’s first integrated PV line

First Solar officially broke ground May 5 on its $1.1 billion thin-film photovoltaic plant in Lake Charles, Louisiana, the company’s first factory in the Deep South. The 2.2-million-sq-ft facility will churn out Series 7 panels starting in early 2026 and lift First Solar’s total U.S. capacity to more than 14 GW.

Turner has 1,200 craftspeople pouring 160,000 yd³ of low-carbon concrete and erecting 36,000 tons of steel before hurricane season. A glass-coating line, frame shop, and 900-kW rooftop array will make the campus the country’s first vertically integrated PV hub. Robots will load modules straight onto rail spurs, cutting truck emissions by 18 percent.

Louisiana kicked in $150 million and a 20-year PILOT, banking on 700 permanent jobs and 1,800 spin-offs. Analysts say the plant meets IRA content rules and could shift utilities away from Asian panels as grid demand surges. First Solar is already eyeing nearby land for a tandem-cell pilot line. A local tech college will train operators.

Texas bullet train revival gets green light again

FRA restarts review with Amtrak for $28B Dallas–Houston high-speed rail, unlocking grants, 20k jobs, new TX Union Station hub, 90-minute trips

The dormant Texas Central bullet train rebooted Monday when the Federal Railroad Administration published a notice to prepare a supplemental environmental study alongside Amtrak. Engineers fanned out with GPS rods near Ennis minutes later, chaining the 240-mile Dallas–Houston corridor for updated soil samples as drones buzzed overhead.

The update moves the Dallas terminal into Union Station, studies a Mid-Cities train yard, and tests hydrogen-battery trains that can sprint 205 mph. Most of the route still rides the I-45 utility strip on elevated girders, but designers widened wildlife crossings and ditched one substation.

Amtrak and Texas Central say a renewed review unlocks federal grants and TIFIA loans, paying most of the $28 billion cost while creating 20,000 build-to-order jobs and 1,400 permanent spots. Ranchers still sue over land, and lawmakers want clear fare caps, but officials eye 2027 ground break and 90-minute rides by 2032 to turn the drive into a coffee-length trip.

Spring Lumber Crash Slashes Framing Costs Thirteen

Lumber prices dive to $470/mbf, cheapest since 2020; builders save $1.3K per starter home and rush to lock deals before hurricanes can reverse gains

Framing crews welcomed rare relief: Western SPF 2×4s averaged $470/mbf the week of Apr 25, Madison’s Lumber Reporter said off 13 % in a month and their cheapest since 2020. Southern yellow pine hit $425 as mild weather freed railcars and Canadian mills rushed loads south before a threatened 40 % tariff.

Builders pounced. D.R. Horton secured six-month price locks, and futures premiums for June deliveries collapsed to single digits. NAHB says the dip cuts about $1,300 from framing on a 2,400-sq-ft starter home—enough to cover today’s mortgage buydowns. OSB and LVL tags are flat, but dealers expect sympathetic declines by Memorial Day.

Risks persist: BC log decks sit 12 % below normal after beetle kill, and a La Niña hurricane season could spike Gulf demand overnight. Analysts say another 10 % dip is feasible if starts stay soft, yet freight snarls or tariff shocks could erase gains. Framers are restocking and reviving bids shelved when lumber flirted with $600 in February.

The Importance of Safe Use of Pallet Jacks on Construction Sites

Introduction
Good morning, Team! Today’s toolbox talk covers the safe use of pallet jacks. Pallet jacks help move heavy materials efficiently, but can cause serious injuries if misused.

Why It Matters
Incorrect handling of pallet jacks can lead to crushed feet, strained muscles, or tipping loads, causing injuries and property damage.

Strategies for Safe Pallet Jack Use

1. Inspect Before Use:

   • Check wheels, forks, and hydraulics for damage or wear before each use.

2. Load Properly:

   • Center and balance loads evenly to avoid tipping or shifting during movement.

3. Operate Carefully:

   • Move at controlled speeds; never run or make sudden turns using pallet jacks.

4. Keep Paths Clear:

   • Ensure pathways are clear of debris and obstacles to prevent tripping or load instability.

5. Use PPE:

   • Wear safety footwear and gloves to protect yourself from injuries during loading or unloading.

Discussion Questions

• Have you witnessed or experienced injuries involving pallet jacks?

• How can we further improve pallet jack safety on-site?

Conclusion
Safe pallet jack operation prevents injuries. Regular inspections, proper loading, clear paths, and careful handling are crucial.

Move smart, stay safe!