Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Historical reports say the Irish have been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day for over 1,000 years. They would feast on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage–not quite sure when the green beer was added into the festivities! The first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place not in Ireland but in America on March 17, 1601 in St. Augustine, Florida. Although not as old as St. Augustine’s, our city of Lawrence, Kansas is also preparing for a St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which has been a tradition since 1988. It’s always a fun experience, with 100 floats, and has raised more than $1.2 million dollars for children’s charities.

We’ve included a few articles from this week’s news in federal government contracting to peruse before you head out to your local St. Pat’s Day celebrations, including updates on government budges for the upcoming fiscal year and contractors leaving the federal space. Have a fun day, stay safe, and a have great weekend.