USDA and Softwood Lumber Board award $3 million - $1.5 million to each of two winning projects - to support tall wood demonstration projects in New York and Portland, Oregon.

DeWalt launches a new 5” Single Speed Random Orbit Sander with hook and loop pad (DW6421), a lightweight sander that carries a low profile.

Hollywood Woodwork received the Architectural Woodwork Institute Award of Excellence for Brickell House, a luxury condominium tower, in Miami, Florida Plain sliced, random matched American black walnut, finished to give the effect of Brazilian rosewood, was used in wall paneling and custom items throughout the first floor, and quartered American black walnut with the same finish was used in the upper floor amenity areas.

The Softwood Lumber Checkoff program is under scrutiny after a U.S. federal court ruling found that the tax imposed may not be "lawful." The September announcement stems from a lawsuit filed against the U.S. Department of Agriculture by Resolute Forest Products Inc.

Herman Miller CEO Brian Walker said this morning at an earnings briefing that the company is rethinking design with the involvement of their customers. The furniture maker is planning to close some small format stores as leases expire and replace them with larger format stores. The change will translate into a net increase of about 55,000 sq. ft. Herman Miller plans to open six new larger format studios by the end of 2016, the first two planned for next month in Scottsdale, AZ and Berkeley, CA.

A 10-story timber tower is planned by SHoP Architects for Manhattan's Chelsea Neighborhood. If approved, it would be the first in New York City to use cross laminated timber construction (CLT).

Regional building materials firm Carter Lumber will open a 50,000 quare foot manufacturing plant in Lexington. More than 100 people will be hired to produce wood products for the Charlotte area. Carter Lumber is based in Ohio.

Dean Foods Company (NYSE:DF) named Ralph Scozzafava to EVP and Chief Operating Officer, effective Oct. 1, 2015. Scozzafava joined Dean Foods in October 2014 as EVP and Chief Commercial Officer

Woodworking tool firm Big Horn Corporation, headquartered in Denison, Texas, was acquired by American General Tool Group, Vista, California

Friends of Hermione-Lafayette in America announce the distribution in the U.S. of the English translation of the museum quality tabletop book, THE HERMIONE: Lafayette's Warship and the American Revolution.