California Workers’ Comp Board OKs Higher Pure Premium Rate Filing
The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California’s governing committee on Wednesday voted to authorize the WCIRB to submit a September 1, 2025 Pure premium rate filing on average 11.2% percent above the average approved September 1, 2024 advisory pure …
Global Natural Disasters Cost Insurers $53B in Q1, With Economic Losses of $83B: Aon
Global natural catastrophes had an insured price tag of more than $53 billion during the first quarter of 2025 – claims driven by California’s wildfires of approximately $38 billion, or 71% of total insured losses across the globe, according to …
AM Best Downgrades Credit Ratings of Texas’ PrimeOne Insurance Group
AM Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating to B- (Fair) from B+ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating to “bb-” (Fair) from “bbb-” (Good) of PrimeOne Insurance Company in Dallas, Texas, a wholly own subsidiary of PrimeOne Insurance …
ALKEME Acquires Michigan’s Crawford Insurance Group
ALKEME has announced its acquisition of Crawford Insurance Group (CIG), a highly regarded personal and commercial insurance agency headquartered in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Founded in 2001, CIG serves clients across a wide range of personal and commercial insurance, both individual …
Capital Farm Credit Acquires Two Texas Agencies
The Board of Directors for Capital Farm Credit recently supported the purchase of two crop insurance agencies in the Texas Plains Region in an acquisition agreement aimed at serving as a long-term provider of critical crop insurance policies. Bennett Crop …
Microsoft Security Vulnerabilities Set Record High in 2024: BeyondTrust
Microsoft reported a record-breaking 1,360 vulnerabilities in its products last year, an all-time high and an 11% increase over the previous record of 1,292 in 2022, according to new report from cybersecurity firm BeyondTrust. Microsoft Office vulnerabilities in particular nearly …
Crime Syndicates in Southeast Asia Go Global, Defying Crackdowns
Cyber crime syndicates that run multi-billion-dollar scam operations across Southeast Asia are still expanding despite recent law enforcement crackdowns, building links from Ireland to Mexico and reaching a potentially irreversible global spillover, the United Nations warned. The transnational criminal networks …
Kentucky Auditor Announces Investigation of State’s Medical Cannabis Program
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s auditor said Thursday that her office will investigate the state’s medical cannabis program after receiving complaints about the lottery system used to award highly sought-after licenses to grow, process and sell the medicinal products to …
Questions About How a Deputy’s Stepson Became the Accused Gunman at FSU Shooting
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Amid the abandoned chemistry notes and other debris left behind after a deadly shooting at Florida State University are lingering questions about how the stepson of a beloved sheriff’s deputy tasked with school safety at a …
Business Moves: Applied Underwriters Completes Spin-Off of United Risk
Applied Underwriters has spun-off United Risk as an independent, stand-alone operating company. United Risk, which was announced in November 2023, is a global property/casualty underwriting platform comprised of 28 different managing general agent (MGA) and underwriter (MGU) specialized insurance programs. …
White House Seeks to Bring Financial Regulators Under Its Sway
The White House is stepping up its efforts to bring independent agencies — including the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission — under its control, requiring allies of President Donald Trump to approve all new regulations …
Trump Tariff Worries Spur Record Overseas Demand for Japanese Government Bonds
The longest-dated Japanese government bonds attracted record foreign demand last month as money shifted out of U.S. debt in search of other safe havens as President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariffs sparked concerns of a U.S. recession. Overseas investors scooped up …
India Plans to Ease Nuclear Liability Laws to Attract Foreign Firms, Sources Say
India is planning to ease its nuclear liability laws to cap accident-related penalties on equipment suppliers, three government sources said, in a move mainly to attract U.S. firms that have been holding back due to the risk of unlimited exposure. …
Norfolk Southern and OxyVinyls Reach Agreement on $600M Settlement
Norfolk Southern reached an agreement with one of two companies about how much each side will help pay for a $600 million class-action settlement, which the railroad agreed to after the disastrous 2023 Ohio train derailment and toxic chemicals that …
Florida Bill Advances, Would End Board of Engineers, Other Professional Agencies
Elon Musk’s age of government efficiency has spread to Florida, with legislation advanced last week that would abolish at least 22 state boards that oversee licensing and disciplinary reviews for engineers, contractors, building inspectors, accountants and many more professionals. House …
Bayer Lobbies States in Battle to Keep Glyphosate on Market, CEO Says
Bayer is lobbying U.S. states to adjust their regulations in the battle to control costly litigation targeting its herbicide glyphosate but is also prepared for a possible exit from the market, the group’s CEO said on Thursday. Facing weak earnings, …
Gov. Hochul’s Proposed Regulatory Changes to Workers’ Comp Treatment
In her 2025 State of the State, Gov. Kathy Hochul outlined several proposals aimed at improving access to medical care within the New York State Workers’ Compensation system. These initiatives, detailed in her “Fighting for Your Family” agenda and elaborated …
High Cost of Living Fears We’re Made Worse by LA Wildfire in UCLA Survey
The high cost of living remains a main concern in America’s largest exacerbated by the January 2025 wildfires is one of the biggest worries bothering residents of Los Angeles County. A survey focused on the county, the nation’s largest with …
Tesla Settles Employee’s California Suit Alleging Pervasive Harassment
Tesla settled a racial discrimination lawsuit by a Black female employee who claimed a manager at its Fremont, California, plant sometimes greeted workers by saying “welcome to the plantation” or “welcome to the slave house.” Raina Pierce, who installed latches …
Navion Acquires P/C Business of Instasure in California
Navion insurance Associates Inc. acquired the property/casualty book of business from Instasure in California. Instasure is an insurance agency that specializes in serving the commercial insurance needs of clients. Navion Insurance Associates is based in Yorba Linda, California. It is …