California Commissioner Moves to Implement Insurance Rate Review Reforms
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara on Friday released a statement on his latest administrative action designed to address the state’s homeowners insurance crisis. Lara today issued a bulletin implementing rate review reforms he says will help stabilize the state’s insurance …
Judge Tosses Suit Alleging Excessive Force During Dakota Access Pipeline Protest
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A federal judge in North Dakota has thrown out the remainder of a lawsuit by an Arizona man who alleged excessive force was used against him when he was protesting the Dakota Access oil pipeline. In …
Oklahoma Contractor Faces $85K Fine Over Fatal Trench Collapse
An Edmond, Oklahoma contractor with a history of workplace safety violations dating back to 2018, including three related to the dangers in underground trenches, was found disregarding U.S. Department of Labor regulations. In February 2024, investigators with the department’s Occupational …
Court Orders Regulators to Fix Process, Reconsider Gas Export Projects in South Texas
McALLEN — A federal court struck down a regulatory agency’s authorization of two controversial, multi-billion-dollar gas export projects in far South Texas, one of which is already under construction. The ruling orders federal regulators to correct procedural deficiencies before reconsidering …
Rapper Nelly Arrested in Missouri for Lack of Insurance, Possession of Ecstasy
Rapper Nelly was arrested early Wednesday at a St. Louis-area casino, and the Missouri Highway Patrol said an officer found four illegal ecstasy pills on him. The rapper’s attorney said an “overzealous” officer targeted him and conducted an improper search. …
Dog Chewing on Lithium-Ion Battery Sparks House Fire in Oklahoma
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — A dog chomping on a lithium-ion battery sparked a serious house fire in Oklahoma, and video of the moment the sparks began to fly has been enlisted by a fire department to show the potential dangers …
New York, Mid-Atlantic States On Tornado Watch as Debby Remnants Move North
A tornado threat is expected today from the Mid-Atlantic states northward into eastern New York, according to the National Weather Service. The risk for a few tornadoes will likely focus initially over the Mid-Atlantic states and Pennsylvania in the morning …
Japan Issued Its First ‘Megaquake’ Warning After Powerful Tremor
An earthquake off the coast of Japan’s southern island of Kyushu prompted the government to issue its first-ever warning for a megaquake from an undersea trough running along a swath of the country’s coast. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called off …
Taylor Swift Cancellations Deal Blow to Insurers: Sources
Insurers face millions of dollars in claims after a foiled attack forced three Taylor Swift concerts in Austria to be canceled, though several providers will share out the hit, two people involved in insurance for her tour told Reuters. The …
Hurricane/Tropical Storm Debby Should be Manageable for Insurers, Early Data Show
Reports from Gallagher Re and the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation suggest that Tropical Storm Debby will not be a heavy lift for property insurers and reinsurers. “Early assessments suggest wind-related physical damage (is) not as extensive as initially feared,” …
Palomar Plans Public Offering to Fund $25M Acquisition of Surety Bonds Specialist FIA
La Jolla, California-based Palomar Holdings, Inc. reports it is buying First Indemnity of America Insurance Co. (FIA), a Morris Plains, New Jersey domiciled insurance carrier specializing in surety bonds for small to medium sized contractors primarily in the Northeast states. …
Sign of the Times: With Debby, Georgia Neighborhood Floods Twice Since 2016
POOLER, Ga. (AP) — The water began seeping into Keon Johnson’s house late Monday night after Tropical Storm Debby had been dumping rain nearly nonstop throughout the day. By Tuesday morning, Johnson’s street was underwater and flooding inside his home …
Hyundai, Kia Software Upgrades Cut Theft Rates By More Than Half, HLDI Finds
Anti-theft software upgrades provided for Hyundai and Kia vehicles regularly targeted by thieves has cut theft rates by more than half, according to new research from the Highway Loss Data Institute. Theft rates of the affected automobiles soared after thieves …
New York City Deploys Drones to Warn About Storms
Gone is the bullhorn. Instead, New York City emergency management officials have turned high-tech, using drones to warn residents about potential threatening weather. With a buzzing sound in the background, a drone equipped with a loudspeaker flies over homes warning …
Delta Rejects CrowdStrike Criticism, Sees $500 Million Hit From Cyber Outage
Delta Air Lines said on Thursday it is pursuing legal claims against CrowdStrike and Microsoft after a global outage last month caused mass flight cancellations, disrupting travel plans of 1.3 million customers and costing it at least $500 million. A …
Australia’s QBE More Than Doubles First-Half Profit, but Misses Estimates
Australia’s QBE Insurance Group on Friday reported a more than twofold jump in its first-half profit, boosted by higher income from premiums, but missed analysts’ view, sending its shares to over a six month low. The company’s gross written premiums …
Hong Kong’s Insurance Boom Lures Job-Seeking Mainlanders
Hong Kong is seeing an influx of professionals from mainland China’s finance and tech sectors who are disillusioned with their career and salary prospects across the border. Many are trying to make a living and stay in the city by …
More People Moving In Than Out of Counties With High Catastrophe Risk
Despite the dangers and expense associated with living in high-risk areas, large numbers of people are still moving to parts of America most impacted by wildfires, flooding and extreme heat. According to a new report from real estate company Redfin, …
SE People Moves: Bisig to Alliant, Former Lawmaker Bell to TDCI Fire Post
Alliant Insurance Services, a distributor of insurance products around the U.S., has named Sean Bisig vice president and producer in its employee benefits group. He will continue to be based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Bisig spent 18 years with UnitedHealth …
IMA Financial Spreads Into Florida Market with Wallace Welch & Willingham
IMA Financial Group, a large brokerage specializing in wealth management and risk advice, is moving into the Florida commercial property insurance market with the merger of Wallace Welch & Willingham Inc. WW&W, based in the St. Petersburg area, is considered …
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