May 23, 2026 - California Observer

California Board Moves Forward With Quartz Countertop Ban

California quartz countertop ban discussions intensified this week after state occupational safety regulators advanced a proposal that would phase out the fabrication of engineered stone products linked to hazardous silica dust exposure among workers in the construction and countertop industries. The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board voted to move the proposal forward during […]

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Estq.io Is Building a Different Kind of Home Services Platform

For years, homeowners have had the same problem when it comes to HVAC, plumbing, and electrical work: nobody really knows what anything should cost until multiple contractors show up and provide completely different estimates. A startup from the Bay Area wants to change that. estq.io is developing a pricing transparency platform for home services that