Dallas-Based Bus Companies Settle Allegations of PPP Loan Violations for $3.9M
Tornado Bus Company, Inc. and El Expreso Group, LLC, two affiliated Dallas-based bus companies that operate numerous international bus routes between the United States and Mexico, agreed to pay $3.9 million to resolve allegations that the companies violated the False …
Legal Battles Expected Over Corpus Christi’s Water Rate Referendum
Reservoirs have rebounded, but the fight over water isn’t over in Corpus Christi. The City Council has ordered a public referendum on a citizen-led petition that would sharply increase the price of water for industrial facilities during drought. The proposal …
Midwest States Grapple With Recovery From Latest Severe Storms
Severe weather cut power to more than half a million people in the Chicago area and northwestern Indiana as perilous thunderstorms and tornadoes pummeled the region Tuesday, causing widespread damage and bringing lightning that injured people at an Ohio prison. …
Kansas Woman Sentenced to Probation for Insurance Fraud
Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt announced a Johnson County woman has been sentenced to 24 months of probation for insurance fraud. Jinky Alcantara, aged 39, pleaded guilty on May 26, 2026, in Johnson County District Court to one felony count …
Shein Loses UK Lawsuit Against Temu Over Copyright Violations
Shein lost a UK lawsuit against PDD Holdings Inc.’s Temu over allegations its rival engaged in large-scale copyright violations. The Chinese-founded e-commerce giant must also compensate Temu for taking down thousands of product listings, according to a London court ruling …
Taylor Farms Outbreaks Show Limits of US Ability to Safeguard Mexican Produce
Two foodborne illness outbreaks linked to Taylor Farms have exposed a weakness at the heart of North America’s food system: the United States is increasingly relying on Mexico’s produce industry, and regulators are straining to oversee it to keep consumers …
Viewpoint: Storm Resilience Must Account for the Assets That Do Not Stay Put
Hurricanes, wildfires and other major weather events often dominate attention, but severe convective storms remain one of the most frequent and costly weather threats facing businesses. In 2025, there were a total of 23 billion-dollar disasters; 21 were severe storms. …
Hawaii Faces More Tropical Threats From El Niño-Charged Pacific
A powerful patch of thunderstorms and wind is expected to strengthen into Tropical Storm Lala by Thursday before taking aim Hawaii this weekend. The weather system was 935 miles (1,500 kilometers) east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, with top winds of 35 …
Thoma Bravo to Take Accelerant Private in $4 Billion Deal
Accelerant said on Thursday that private equity firm Thoma Bravo will take the insurance marketplace platform private in an all-cash deal worth more than $4 billion, just over a year after its New York listing. Shareholders of Atlanta-based Accelerant will …
UnitedHealth Investor Suit Alleges Security, Governance Lapses
UnitedHealth Group Inc. board members ignored a raft of governance and oversight risks for years before catastrophic failures triggered billions in losses for investors, a shareholder lawsuit alleges. An amended complaint filed Aug. 7 in a Minnesota federal court reveals …
Low Rhine River Levels Disrupt German Industry
German companies are reporting growing disruption from Rhine water levels that have hit record lows, with chemical producers, utilities, steelmakers and agricultural traders warning of higher costs, transport bottlenecks and curbed production. While Germany has not yet suffered the widespread …
Russia Eyeing Sabotage, Other Attacks in Europe, Officials Warn
Russia may escalate attacks against the Baltic States and Poland, a European intelligence official said, amid rising concern that Moscow wants to further intimidate nations supporting Ukraine. There are indications that Russian intelligence and security services are looking at so-called …
Experts Race to Salvage Leaking Oil Tanker Grounded Off Oman
Specialists are racing to salvage a sinking shadow-fleet tanker off Oman that has caused a massive oil slick, with rough monsoon conditions threatening to hamper the effort. Specialist personnel have already boarded the Caroline Bezengi, a Suezmax that’s grounded among …
Iran Battles Oil Spill Near Key Persian Gulf Island of Qeshm
Iran is battling an oil spill off Qeshm Island, underscoring the environmental risks posed by attacks on tankers in the Persian Gulf. Satellite images show a dark, elongated trail in waters off the coastal village of Shib Deraz — a …
Australia Sets ‘World-Leading’ Minimum Pay, Insurance Rules for Gig Delivery Workers
Australia’s industrial umpire has approved new minimum standards requiring food and grocery delivery workers to be paid hourly rates above the national minimum wage and covered by injury insurance while on the job. Gig workers will be paid at least …
Homeowners Insurance Market Reaches ‘Fragmented Phase,’ Says S&P GMI
New research from S&P Global Market Intelligence looks to suggest that homeowners insurers are reaching rate adequacy, but certain marketplace factors are creating what it called a “fragmented phase.” Nationally, the US effective approved homeowners rate change declined from about …
Atlanta Airport Taps Munis for $1.1 Billion Mega Bond Sale
The world’s busiest airport is coming to market with a more than $1 billion municipal bond sale, boosting issuance in the lagging airport sector. Atlanta’s borrowing will help finance infrastructure improvements at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, a cornerstone hub …
WV Fire Commission Has Failed to Make Plan to Address High Fire Death Rate
West Virginia is one of the deadliest states for house fires, killing an average of 32 people per year between 2009 and 2023. An audit of the State Fire Commission in December of 2025 noted that the commission hadn’t compiled …
Amynta Group Buys Virginia-Based Southern States Underwriters MGU
Amynta Group, an insurance services firm and managing general agent based in New York, said it has acquired Southern States Underwriters and SSC Insurance Agency, based in Richmond, Virginia. The underwriter and agency are the insurance operations of Southern States …
People: Rivera Named President of FSLA at Convention
The Florida Surplus Lines Association installed its new officers and directors this week at what the association said was a record-breaking annual convention in St. Petersburg. “Our industry plays a vital role in helping Florida businesses and consumers find coverage …

