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Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of Feb. 23.

Let's get started with project updates:

1. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other officials opened the new $239 million Learning Center at the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center.
2. Officials in Camden County, N.J., will search for a new location for a potential $1 billion regional justice complex after Winslow Township opposed the facility being built there.
3. Commissioners in Aroostook County, Maine have entered contract negotiations with SMRT Architects and Engineers for design and architectural services for a new jail.
4. Supervisors in Fond du Lac County, Wis., have reached an agreement with Venture Architects LLC to provide schematic designs for a potential new jail and justice center project.

Moving on to legislation and funding:

1. The Georgia Senate passed a $409 million budget line item last week to build a 300-bed forensic psychiatric hospital.
2. The Florida House of Representatives Justice Appropriations Subcommittee approved a measure to allocate approximately $250 million to the state's Department of Corrections for prison development.
3. Louisiana's Office of Juvenile Justice has requested an additional $28 million in state funding during the next budget cycle to provide additional beds across the system.

Next, in people news:

1. Professional services firm Dewberry has announced that David J. Mahoney has been named Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1.
2. HDR has announced three promotions within its Civic sector: Jim Aalders to Western Canada Civic Director, Tommy Sinclair to U.S. East Region Civic Director, and Swapnil Ukey to Justice Principal.
3. Correctional News extends its condolences to the family and colleagues of 30-year Utah Department of Corrections employee Sgt. Robert Hill, who died on Feb. 15.

Up next in construction reports:

1. The County of San Diego in California has issued an RFP for CMAR services for the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility Upgrades Project, with bids due April 6.
2. The Pennsylvania Department of General Services is seeking proposals for control room, security camera, and other facility upgrades at the State Correctional Institution Pine Grove, with bids due April 7.

And finishing off this week with events:

1. Correctional News will host a free live webinar, "The Facility Factor: How Your Building Is Driving Turnover and Liability," on March 12.
2. The International Corrections and Prisons Association's International Research and Corrections Conference will be held March 2–5 in Auckland, New Zealand.
3. The International Law Enforcement Educators...