NHTSA Laid Off 4% of Staff, Spokesperson Says
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration laid off 4% of its staff as part of a government-wide trimming of probationary employees, a spokesperson said Monday. The agency has pending investigations into Tesla TSLA.O, which is headed by Elon Musk, the …
California Governor Asks Congress for $40B for LA Wildfire Relief
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has asked Congress to approve nearly $40 billion in aid to help the Los Angeles area recover from January’s devastating wildfires, which he said could become the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Newsom sent a …
SEC Closes Investigation Into Robinhood’s Crypto Arm Without Action
Robinhood said on Monday the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission had closed its probe into the firm’s crypto trading arm with no action, signaling further regulatory changes in the crypto industry since President Donald Trump took office. The retail trading …
Mangione Draws Crowd at First Court Hearing Since Arraignment
NEW YORK (AP) — The defendant wore a bulletproof vest and shackles. A woman in the crowd wore a “Free Luigi” scarf. Outside, throngs of people cheered and chanted his name. So it went Friday at a court hearing for …
Maryland Report Says Many Workers Misclassified, Costing $59M in Comp Premiums
Worker misclassification in Maryland is widespread, leaving thousands of workers without injury protection and depriving insurance companies of more than $58 million in workers’ compensation premiums each year, according to a new report from a state task force. Maryland’s Joint …
Florida AG Sues Target, Claiming DEI Initiatives Misled Investors
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida’s new attorney general filed a federal court lawsuit against Target on Thursday, claiming the discount store chain “misled investors” by promoting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that prompted a backlash and hurt sales, ultimately costing …
Georgia Tort Bill Advances After Kemp Makes Concession on Medical Costs
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia senators voted 33-21 on Friday to support Gov. Brian Kemp’s top-priority legislation to limit lawsuits, but not before some of Kemp’s fellow Republicans extracted a concession in exchange for the votes necessary to secure a majority. …
Snowy Roads Lead to Hundreds of Crashes in Virginia, North Carolina
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Roads in Virginia and North Carolina remained treacherous Thursday as unusually heavy snow led to hundreds of accidents, including crashes on an interstate that involved more than 50 vehicles. Meanwhile, a polar vortex sent temperatures plunging …
EU Plans to Walk Back Key Planks of Toughest ESG Legislation
The European Commission is proposing a significant watering down of what was arguably its most consequential piece of ESG regulation. The European Union’s executive arm is proposing that the bloc amend eight main points in the scope of the Corporate …
COVID-Like Bat Virus Discovered by Researchers in Chinese Lab
Researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China said they discovered a new coronavirus in bats that enters cells using the same gateway as the virus that causes Covid-19. This virus hasn’t been detected in humans, merely identified in …
Bybit Hit by Crypto’s Worst Hack With Almost $1.5 Billion Stolen
Crypto exchange Bybit said it was hacked, resulting in what analysts estimate was the loss of almost $1.5 billion worth of tokens in the biggest theft ever committed in the industry. Researchers believe North Korean hackers were likely responsible. A …
EEOC Seeks to Drop Transgender Discrimination Cases
Signaling a major shift in civil rights enforcement, the federal agency that enforces workplace anti-discrimination laws has moved to dismiss six of its own cases on behalf of workers alleging gender identity discrimination, arguing that the cases now conflict with …
Berkshire Hathaway Removes Diversity and Inclusion From Annual Report
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway on Saturday joined a growing list of American companies to publicly change their approach to discussing their commitment to diversity and inclusion. Berkshire’s annual report includes a section describing how the conglomerate’s 189 operating businesses, which …
Florida OIR Wants More Data, Warns Insurers About Concurrent Causation Denials
As consumer complaints have apparently mounted over unpaid hurricane losses, Florida’s top insurance regulator and some lawmakers are signaling new scrutiny on insurance carriers’ claims-handling and other practices. Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky late last week posted a memo, demanding …
How Better Water Systems Can Help a City Survive The Next Firestorm
Santa Rosa. Paradise. Boulder County. Lahaina. Los Angeles. All are places that have shown that American cities and their water systems weren’t built to withstand wildfire, experts say. Related: California Wildfire Mitigation And Recovery Bill Package Introduced Hydrants trickled. Pumps …
Washington Bill Would Provide Restitution for Policyholders Harmed by Insurers
A bill to allow the Washington’s insurance commissioner to order restitution for policyholders harmed by insurance companies moved out of the state Senate Business, Financial Services, and Trade Committee. Senate Bill 5331 gives the commissioner authority to require insurers to …
Buffett’s Berkshire Posts Record Profit on Insurance, Investments
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway on Saturday said operating profit set a record in the fourth quarter and for the third straight calendar year, bolstered by improved underwriting and higher investment income in its insurance businesses. Much of that income came …
LA Mayor Removes Fire Chief in Fallout From Palisades Blaze
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass removed Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, citing failures in the department’s response to the devastating Palisades wildfire. Bass appointed former LAFD Chief Deputy Ronnie Villanueva, a 41-year LAFD veteran, as interim chief while the city launches …
SEC to Drop Lawsuit Against Coinbase, Firm Says
Coinbase said on Friday the U.S. securities regulator planned to withdraw its lawsuit against the crypto exchange, ending a contentious years-long legal battle once considered existential for the trading platform and the broader sector. The Securities and Exchange Commission has …
Ohio Ex-Police Officer Sentenced for Starting 26 Arson Fires in Wayne National Forest
A former Ohio fire department administrator and police officer was sentenced in federal court here to 18 months in prison for starting dozens of arson fires in Wayne National Forest. James A. Bartels, 52, of Rio Grande, Ohio, started 26 …