America's largest supermarket chain, Cincinnati-based Kroger, recently announced it would install 225 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at 125 stores across California and Arizona according to an article in the Los Angeles Times.

Last Friday’s jobs report revealed that the labor force participation rate – the proportion of the working age, civilian non-institutional population that either has a job or is actively looking for one – hit 63.8 percent, the lowest rate since February 1979. That means 496,000 people left the workforce from February 2013 to March 2013.  People leave the labor force for a number of reasons, including moving into retirement or onto the disability rolls, leaving the job market to go to school or because they are discouraged and are no longer actively seeking employment.

Transportation plans in Maryland, Ohio and Virginia are one step closer to becoming a reality this week. For other states though, the debate over how to fund transportation going forward continues. I also have some noteworthy items below on the condition of America’s infrastructure and what states are doing about it.

On July 1st, provisions banning the disposal of electronic waste like TVs, computers, DVD players, and other devices will go into effect under Colorado's "Electronic Recycling Jobs Act." For consumers in the state looking for solutions to get rid of their unwanted gadgets, the Colorado Department of Public Health has created a website with information on the nearest recycling centers or retail stores like Best Buy or Staples that may also offer free recycling programs.