Afternoon Coffee: DOT Allots $1.5 Billion for Infrastructure Across U.S.; Apple Chooses Austin for $1 Billion Campus

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The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced how $1.5 billion for infrastructure will be spent, Supply Chain Dive reports. It will fund 91 road, rail, transit and port infrastructure projects in 49 states and Washington, D.C., using the department’s  discretionary grant program, now called BUILD, or Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development. These grants — formerly known as TIGER, or Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery — target rural areas where investment has lagged, the Dive reports.

Going Big in Texas, Beyond

California-based Apple Inc. has chosen Austin, Texas, as the site of its new $1 billion campus, the Austin-American Statesman reports. It will be the company’s largest hub outside of its California headquarters, but plans for smaller offices in cities across the country also were announced. The Austin campus is expected to have 5,000 workers and expand to have 15,000 employees, the Statesman reports.

Target, Walmart Sued Over Lead-tainted Toy

Lead in jewelry-making kits has spurred New York’s attorney general to sue retailers Target and Walmart and the importer, LaRose Industries, CNBC reports in a story breaking this afternoon.

“Cra-Z-Jewelz” kits had lead levels up to 10 times higher than the federal limit, CNBC said. The attorney general said those findings had already spurred a nationwide recall of the toys and alleged the companies violated multiple state laws in 2015 and 2016, CNBC said.

A Tourist Trip to Space, Anyone?

Virgin Galactic flew a rocket plane 51 miles high Thursday, making the case that its test craft can get to the edge of space — a boundary that’s not quite set, The Associated Press reports. Here’s how the AP puts the debate: “Virgin Galactic considers 50 miles (80 kilometers) the boundary of space because that is the distanced used by the U.S. Air Force and other U.S. agencies. That’s different than a long-held view that the boundary is at 62 miles (100 kilometers). Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides noted that recent research favors the lower altitude.”