The International Code Council is set to vote this fall on whether it will back a code change to allow construction of wood buildings up to 18 stories—much to the chagrin and trepedation of the Portland Cement Association [see stoptallwood.com). Elsewhere: Brad Pitt is being sued for homes he helped build post-Hurricane Katrina, Australia celebrates the towering potential of timber; and wood toy blocks come back into vogue. 

In Business news: a NAFTA deal is expected today—at least in principle—as Canada pushes to save the Chapter 19 dispute panels; Statistics Canada reports lumber production is down in June; and UK utility The Drax Group plots its coal-free future with US wood pellets.

Finally, the worst of BC’s record wildfire season is over, and the property and timber values were less than last year; and California’s Governor Brown supports legislation allowing for more logging in the state’s fire-prone forests.

–Kelly McCloskey,Tree Frog Editor