Specialty Program Group Consolidates 5 Brands Under SPG Wholesale
Specialty Program Group LLC, an operator of specialty insurance distribution, underwriting, and consulting businesses, is consolidating its wholesale businesses under a single division called SPG Wholesale. Monarch E&S, Beacon Hill Associates, Specialty Wholesale Insurance Solutions (SWIS), Capitol Special Risk, and …
Tampa-Based HCI Group’s Tech Platform Exzeo Files Plans to Go Public
Another Florida-based insurance-related company has announced it is going public. Exzeo Group, a technology subsidiary of Tampa-based HCI Group, parent of Homeowners Choice Property & Casualty Insurance Co., filed an initial public offering registration on Thursday. That makes the third …
New Approach: Pilot Program Helping West Virginia Workers With Child Care
Heather Clark has juggled working full-time for an insurance agency and caring for her young daughter for the past five years. “When you have a kid at home, you can’t answer the phones, and you can’t have that personal interaction,” …
ALKEME Insurance Acquires New York’s Alliance Brokerage
California-based ALKEME Insurance announced it has acquired Alliance Brokerage Corp., a Melville, New York-based property/casualty agency. The acquisition strengthens ALKEME’s presence on the East Coast and adds insurance and risk management expertise in both real estate and construction insurance. Alliance …
People Moves: Delos Executive Pratt Appointed to Legislative Committee of Surplus Line Association of California
Tom Pratt, head of public policy and government affairs at property insurance MGA Delos Insurance Solutions, has been appointed to the legislative committee of the Surplus Line Association of California. Delos is headquartered in San Francisco, California. The Surplus Line …
CIC and Ragnar Launch Utah-Domiciled Captive for Restaurants and Bars
CIC Services LLC and the Ragnar Group Inc. have launched a captive domiciled in Utah focused on the hospitality sector. The companies say the captive is intended to solve the challenge of being misclassified. The new group captive applies underwriting …
Teacher Denied Rehiring Over Political Views Revives Free Speech Claim on Appeal
A philosophy lecturer recently revived his First Amendment claim against a state university that refused to rehire him because of some of his controversial off-campus political comments and activities that the school said were disruptive to its educational mission. A …
Attorneys Urge Court Overseeing Tylenol Autism Lawsuits to Consider Trump Advice
Families appealing the dismissal of their lawsuits alleging that Kenvue’s Tylenol or generic versions of the pain-relief medication caused their children’s autism are asking an appeals court to consider President Donald Trump’s new advice that pregnant women avoid the pain …
Google Likely to Be Hit With First EU Antitrust Fine Under New EU Law, Sources Say
Alphabet’s Google is likely to be hit with its first fine under landmark new EU tech rules in the coming months, and the European Commission is now drafting its decision, three people with direct knowledge of the matter said. Acting …
ZestyAI Gains Wisconsin Approval for AI Model Tackling Non-Weather Water Risk
ZestyAI, a provider of AI-powered property and climate risk analytics, announced that its non-weather water risk model, Z-WATER, has received approval in Wisconsin for use in underwriting and writing. With this approval, insurers in Wisconsin can begin using Z-WATER to: …
Minnesota Cities Test Limits of State’s Cannabis Law, Exposing Legal Gray Areas
Whether it comes from courtrooms or the Capitol, Minnesota’s cannabis laws look in need of clarification in response to wide interpretations by cities. Local governments by law can cap the number of cannabis retailers, place restrictions on where businesses are …
Starbase Will Take Partial Control of Beach Near SpaceX Launch Site
The new South Texas city established by Elon Musk’s SpaceX employees, Starbase, will assume control over certain parts of the beach near the rocket company’s launch site. Cameron County commissioners approved the agreement to hand over a portion of Boca …
Deadly Shooting at Dallas ICE Hub Was ‘Targeted,’ FBI Say
A shooting at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement center in Dallas left one detainee dead and two others critically injured in what federal officials described as a “targeted attack” against the agency. Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel tweeted …
Atlantic Hurricane Season Awakens After Sleepy Start
This year’s Atlantic hurricane season has so far lagged behind long-term trends, generated oddities and left seasoned forecasters scratching their heads. But now it’s finally shaking off the doldrums and spinning up storms. Tropical Storm Humberto formed Wednesday north of …
‘Most Prevalent’ Chinese Hacking Group Targets Tech, Law Firms
Suspected Chinese hackers are behind an ongoing cyberespionage campaign against US technology companies and legal firms, stealing national security secrets often while remaining undetected, according to Alphabet Inc.’s Google. The hacking group, which Google tracks under the code name UNC5221, …
Markets/Coverages: Ryan’s Clach Casualty Targets Complex Construction, Habitational
Global specialty insurance firm Ryan Specialty announced the formation of Clach Casualty Underwriting Managers, a managing general underwriter (MGU) focused on providing casualty insurance for complex construction and habitational real estate risks. Clach Casualty began operations in September 2025, and …
National Flood Insurance Program Once Again on the Verge of Expiration
About six months after Congress passed a short-term reauthorization, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will soon expire—a prospect that could cause coverage lapses for policyholders with expiring contracts at the traditional height of hurricane season, and major problems for …
New Hampshire Receives First $8 Million Check From 3M Co. PFAS Water Settlement
New Hampshire has received an initial payment of close to $8 million from the 3M Company’s nationwide PFAS settlement of public drinking water systems claims. Attorney General John M. Formella said the funds will be deposited in the state’s drinking …
Kentucky Distillery Bounces Back From Flood That Halted Bourbon Production
The long history of bourbon production at Buffalo Trace Distillery has been connected to the Kentucky River — summed up as a blessing and curse by a plaque on the grounds. In the 1800s, long before the Buffalo Trace name …
Former Student Sues Southern Miss and Fraternity Over Alleged Hazing Injuries
A former Omega Psi Phi pledge who alleges he was so severely beaten during the Nu Eta chapter’s “Hell Night” that he had to relearn how to walk is now suing the fraternity, the University of Southern Mississippi, multiple other …



