Action on Obamacare may have waned at the federal level, but that’s not stopping states from picking up where Washington, D.C., left off. California is the latest — and so far largest — state to implement a state-level healthcare mandate. It is unlikely to be the last.

In other news, it was recently announced that Amazon, for the first time, is distributing the majority of its products itself, rather than through third-party delivery companies. This could have wide-ranging impact in the restaurant delivery space.

Finally, the team from Align Public Strategies discusses Facebook’s announcement that the company is moving into the cryptocurrency space.

Align Public Strategies is a full-service public affairs and creative firm that helps corporate brands, governments and non-profit organizations navigate the outside world and inform their internal decision-making. This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of Nation's Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality.