Joshua Baer, the founder and chief executive officer of the venture capital firm Capital Factory, died Tuesday in a plane crash in South Texas, the Austin American-Statesman reported. Baer, a major player in the Texas technology and startup space, was …

Expanding biofuel demand is a “powerful catalyst” to restore profitability to American farms, according to a new study, as harvests balloon and lawmakers consider broadening the market for corn-based ethanol. Climbing crop yields are creating persistent surpluses thanks to better …

Uber Technologies Inc. will offer driverless robotaxi rides in Houston in vehicles developed by Lucid Group Inc. and Nuro Inc., setting it up to challenge Waymo in the fourth-largest US city. Nuro is already testing the vehicles in Houston, but …

Hiscox Appoints Bailey as Head of Channel, Traded and Corix in the US Hiscox, with headquarters in Atlanta, appointed Lori Bailey as head of channel, traded and Corix. Bailey will report to Mary Boyd, CEO of Hiscox USA, and will …

Demand for ocean divers who specialize in barnacle scraping is soaring as ships stranded in the Persian Gulf for more than three months prepare to disembark. The surge in orders for crews to clean ship hulls fouled by algae, slime …

Amazon.com Inc. is facing a possible lawsuit from the US Federal Trade Commission that may lead to billions of dollars in civil penalties, over claims the e-commerce giant misled advertisers, according to people familiar with the matter. The FTC, which …

Six months after President Donald Trump warned states not to regulate artificial intelligence, they are increasingly doing just that. Congress has stalled on producing federal regulation of artificial intelligence as states forge ahead and scrutinize how chatbots interact with children, …

Some coral reef ecosystems have a far greater chance of surviving the effects of climate change than previously understood, according to new global research. About 166,000 square kilometers (64,093 square miles) of coral reefs across 71 countries have capacity to …

Higginbotham, ranked as the 16th-largest independent brokerage in the U.S., has expanded again, this time with the acquisition of Blanton & Griffin Insurance Agency in Valdosta, Georgia. The collaboration adds southern Georgia market strength and an established local team to …

A federal judge sent Bayer’s proposed $7.25 billion Roundup settlement back to state court on Wednesday, overruling objections from plaintiffs who had argued the state court had no power to implement a nationwide resolution of lawsuits that claim the company’s …

Ward Joins Alliant Insurance Services Benefits Team as SVP Brandon Ward joined Alliant Insurance Services as senior vice president within its employee benefits group. Ward has a background working with technology companies, venture-backed businesses and growth-stage organizations. His experience includes …

Zurich is committing to expand its property coverage availability in areas designated as distressed in California in a new filing. Zurich U.S. submitted a commercial property insurance rate filing in California under the state’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy, an effort by …

A Flint, Michigan man was charged last week in a criminal complaint with arson and other related offenses for setting fire to St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced. According to the criminal complaint, …

The anti-referral provision in Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation law does not prevent a provider from referring a patient to a pharmacy in which the provider has a financial interest. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled 5-2 that the law’s prohibition on …

The race for the next Oklahoma insurance commissioner narrowed on Tuesday, as Bob Sullivan and Marty Quinn advanced out of the Republican primary to an Aug. 25 runoff. Sullivan, a third-generation insurance professional, was the top vote-getter, receiving about 37% …

World Insurance Associates LLC has acquired the business of ML Ruberton Agency and MLR Risk Management (MLR) of Hammonton, New Jersey. MLR provides personal and commercial property insurance, life and health insurance, and consulting services. Terms of the March 1, …

The UK is investigating the firing of warning shots by a Russian warship near a British yacht just outside of its territorial waters. The UK received reports from a UK-registered yacht alleging Russia’s Admiral Grigorovich-class frigate fired the shots at …

This edition of International People Moves details appointments at the brokers Lockton and Aon. A summary of these new hires follows here. Lockton Appoints Lespérance as CEO of Canadian Business Lockton, the privately held independent insurance brokerage, announced the appointment …

ANV Group Holdings Ltd. said it has entered a definitive merger agreement with Open Lending Corporation. ANV said it will acquire all outstanding shares of Open Lending common stock for $3.15 per share through an all-cash tender offer. The transaction …

The Alabama Republican Party said U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville will remain the party’s gubernatorial nominee, rejecting a claim on Sunday that he had not lived in the state long enough to run for governor. The unanimous decision came after the …