text: AMERICAN AIRLINES PILOT UNION REJECTS CONTRACT DEAL: The Allied Pilots Association, which represents 15,000 American Airlines pilots, has voted 15 to 5 to reject a proposed contract agreement with American Airlines Group. The contract proposal would have raised pilot pay by 19% over two years but was rejected Wednesday after a meeting to consider terms of the tentative deal. OFFICIALS WARN OF DEPARTURES, SHORT STAFFING AT TSA OVER PAY: Officials stated that there could be a wave of employee departures and short staffing could worsen next year if changes to the TSA pay system aren’t passed before the end of the current Congressional session. TSA Administrator David Pekoske stated that the TSA workforce is watching for action on pay, with many holding off retirement or leaving the agency hoping for a significant pay raise. The pay equity push will affect how the TSA can manage next year’s summer travel rush. Staff shortages have already strained the industry’s ability to keep pace with rebounding passenger volume.PIPELINE DEVELOPER CALLS ON CONGRESS FOR ASSISTANCE: Equitrans Midstream Corporation, the developer of the troubled $6.6B Mountain Valley Pipeline in the North East, stated that Congress needs to pass permitting reform for the project to be completed. The pipeline is years behind schedule and over budget, but permitting reform proposed by Senator Joe Manchin requiring the completion of the project was pulled from a funding bill in September due to opposition. PROPOSED MIDWEST TRANSMISSION LINE FACES LEGAL HURDLES: The proposed transmission line Cardinal-Hickory Creek project is facing delays from legal challenges. Challengers argue that the transmission line routing through the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is incompatible with the purpose of the refuge. Even if the developers win in court, they are unlikely to finish construction by the end of 2023. TENSIONS RISE OVER COLORADO RIVER: The seven Colorado River Basin states have missed their August deadline to negotiate allocation reductions based on a 2019 deal with the Federal Bureau of Reclamation, which required the states to save up to 4 million acre-feet of water, one-third of the river’s flows. The Colorado River Basin provides drinking water to 40 million people and irrigation waters for 15% of U.S. farmland and is now at a historically low level. Western states are in disagreement over the proposed allocation cuts, with Arizona facing a 21% cut and Nevada facing an 8% cut in 2023.WELLS FARGO MORTGAGE STAFF BRACE FOR LAYOFFS: Mortgage volumes have slowed further in recent weeks, sparking concerns of more layoffs following their start in April, and internal projections point to more departures. Wells Fargo had 18,000 loans in its retail origination pipeline in the early weeks of Q4, down 90% from the same time in 2021, according to sources with knowledge of the bank’s figures.WHITE SUBURBAN WOMEN SWING TOWARD GOP: A Wall Street Journal poll finds that white suburban women have significantly shifted their support from Democrats to Republicans. The recent survey shows support for Republican congressional candidates by 15%, a 27% move away from Democrats since the poll was conducted in August. The survey shows an increase in economic concerns and inflation, while concerns over abortion rights may have waned. REPUBLICANS PLAN ATTACK ON ESG INVESTING: Republicans are planning to build on momentum established in states like Texas, Louisiana, and West Virginia to discourage banks and asset managers from considering environmental, social, and governance factors or ESG in financial and investment decisions. Financial officer candidates in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, and Kansas have already taken positions on ESG. According to House Representative and Financial Services Committee member Andy Barr (R-KY), House Republicans will focus on ESG if they win a majority in November. HURRICANE SEASON: NSTRGEOSTRATEGIC INTSUM