Subcontractor Shuts Down After Obama Presidential Center Losses
The financial problems surrounding the Obama Presidential Center continue to grow as another contractor says the high-profile project has forced his company to shut down operations and lay off dozens of employees.
The latest dispute adds to a series of payment and construction-related complaints from subcontractors who worked on the development, several of whom say they suffered significant financial losses.
Mike Owen, owner of Chicago-based Adamson Plumbing Contractors, said his company has suspended operations after losing millions of dollars while working on the Obama Presidential Center.
According to Owen, the financial strain forced him to lay off 25 union workers, abandon multiple construction projects and begin operating the business from his home while pursuing legal action.
“Laying off close to 30 people is something that no owner in our industry wants to do,” Owen told Fox News.
“It’s a hard thing to do, especially when you know you can finish them and the company can still make money. But we were put in a pretty bad corner.”
Adamson performed plumbing work on the project under the name Marsh-Adamson.
The company has now filed a $1.72 million mechanic’s lien against the Obama Presidential Center, alleging it has not been fully paid for completed work.
A mechanic’s lien is a legal claim contractors can file against a property when they believe they have not received payment for work they performed.
Owen said the lien represents only the portion of his losses that he believes is supported by the strongest documentation, including unpaid invoices, approved change orders and labor costs.
He estimates his company’s total losses from the project are approximately $3.9 million.
“It doesn’t mean that I’m not going to pursue the $3.9 million in change that we lost overall,” Owen said.
“I’m still working with my legal team on that $3.9 million figure because I feel that it’s only right that we still hold ownership at the presidential center accountable.”
According to Owen, months of negotiations with Lakeside Alliance, the construction manager for the project, failed to resolve the dispute.
He said the situation reached a breaking point shortly before the Obama Presidential Center officially opened on June 19.
Owen said his company agreed to provide two journeyman plumbers for last-minute overnight work after Lakeside Alliance agreed to release part of the money it allegedly owed Adamson.
An email reviewed by Fox News Digital reportedly indicated that a $100,000 payment would be released through the company’s May payment application.
Owen said his workers completed the requested work, but the payment did not arrive before the center’s opening ceremony.
“We negotiated it in good faith,” Owen said.
“Against my better judgment, I agreed to do the work.”
He said the delayed payment deprived the company of the cash it needed to continue operating.
“Not getting that large sum of money just kind of pulled the brakes on the train. It was just the final death blow to the company,” Owen said.
Rather than continue operating while facing mounting debts, Owen said he decided to suspend business operations on June 25.
The promised payment, along with approximately $35,000 for approved change orders, eventually arrived more than two weeks later.
Owen said the money allowed him to pay one supplier but did little to improve the company’s overall financial condition.
“It’s almost like too little, too late,” he said.
Lakeside Alliance, a joint venture led by Turner Construction along with UJAMAA Construction, Powers & Sons Construction, Brown & Momen and Safeway Construction, served as construction manager for the Obama Presidential Center.
In a statement, the alliance said contractual closeout work often continues well after large construction projects officially open.
“Lakeside Alliance remains committed to working through all outstanding matters to successfully close out the project,” a spokesperson said, Fox News reported.
The company did not directly respond to Owen’s specific allegations regarding the layoffs or the mechanic’s lien.
Breaking: Norway's King Harald passes away
The King of Norway King Harald has passed away
News has just come in, that the King of Norway, King Harald V has passed away and is survived by his son, Crown Prince Haakon and his wife Queen Sonja.
According to the BBC the 89-year-old monarch had been in treatment for 10 days at this point and was receiving treatment for a rare blood condition called haemolytic anaemia, its being said.
For those unversed with the disorder it is where red blood cells end up getting destroyed in the body way faster than the bone marrow can make new ones. It leads to dizziness, shortness of breath and a myriad of other conditions.
On Thursday an official update was also shared, whereby the Palace had revealed how serious his condition was. What is also pertinent to mention is that the royal has been on the throne since 1991, and is considered Europe’s oldest head of state, according to the outlet.
His son, the Crown Prince is also 53-years’ old and has already been serving as regent while his father was on medical leave.
The outlet’s report also says, “King Harald has been treated in recent weeks with cortisone for haemolytic anaemia, a condition that causes the number of red blood cells in the body to be reduced, and leads to fatigue and shortness of breath.”
The official website has also gone down since then, with the simple message, "It is with deep grief that we announce that His Majesty King Harald has passed away. King Harald died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet Friday 28 August at 6:35 AM."
The One Guest At Dolly Parton's Funeral No One Expected
When the world lost an irreplaceable icon, the entire globe stopped to mourn. Yet, behind the scenes, away from the glittering lights and the massive stadium farewells, a deeply personal and shockingly quiet goodbye was taking place. The Queen of Country had meticulously planned her own farewell, dictating exactly who was allowed inside the room. But when the guest list was finally revealed, one specific name left the public absolutely stunned. Who was the unexpected guest, and what does it reveal about the beloved star's final days? Read the full breakdown below and find the complete video analysis at the end of this article.
1. A World in Mourning: The Tributes Pour In
The video begins by painting a picture of the overwhelming global grief following Dolly Parton's passing in August 2026. The tributes were historic. From Paul McCartney to Seth MacFarlane, and from world leaders to ordinary fans, everyone agreed that the world had lost someone truly irreplaceable. President Donald Trump even ordered American flags to be flown at half-staff nationwide for an entire week—an unprecedented honor for a country singer, proving just how deeply her philanthropy and universal kindness had impacted the nation.
2. The Quiet Goodbye: Planned to Perfection
Contrary to the massive public outpourings of grief, Dolly’s actual farewell was intensely private. According to the video, Dolly had been planning her own funeral for years to ensure her loved ones wouldn't be burdened with decisions. She explicitly requested to be buried in a comfortable cotton dress and her signature high heels, resting beside her husband of 59 years, Carl Dean, who had passed away just 17 months prior. She requested no massive public service, asking instead that fans donate to her Imagination Library to give children the gift of reading. The actual funeral room in Nashville was strictly reserved for "immediate family only."
3. The Unexpected Guest: A Chosen Family
The climax of the story revolves around the strict "immediate family only" guest list. Sibling, nieces, and nephews were there, but the world was shocked to learn that pop star Miley Cyrus was also invited into that sacred, private room.
While many knew Dolly as Miley’s "honorary godmother," the video reveals the profound depth of their bond. From faxing love notes to discovering they were actual blood relatives (seventh cousins, once removed), Dolly viewed Miley not as a celebrity connection, but as true family. Dolly’s decision to include Miley in her final moments perfectly encapsulated her life's philosophy: she refused to categorize people, choosing genuine love and deep relationships over industry reputation.
Watch Full Video Here :
