New Vermont Law Halts Public Funds for Religious Schools. Is Litigation Ahead?
Since 2021, religious schools in Vermont have been receiving an increasing amount of money through Vermont’s school tuitioning program. But Act 73, Vermont’s wide-ranging education reform law signed into law in July, effectively halts that trend. Last week, the state …
People Moves: Mize to Lead IMA’s Wichita Office, Jamison Takes on Enterprise Role
IMA Financial Group, Inc., a North American insurance brokerage firm specializing in risk management, wholesale brokerage and wealth management, has named Dan Mize as its new Wichita market president, effective Aug. 15. Jeff Jamison, who previously held the role, has …
Husband and Wife Insurance Agents Charged With $700K Fraud Scheme
A Massachusetts couple was arrested this week for their alleged involvement in a scheme that defrauded at least 50 individuals or insurance providers of more than $700,000 through their insurance agency, BL Insurance Brokerage, LLC. Brendan Lawler and Lisa Lawler, …
People Moves: Novatae Risk Group Names Greggains as New Leader
Novatae Risk Group, the wholesale business of leading insurance brokerage World Insurance Associates, has announced that Richard Kerr, CEO, has left the firm effective Aug. 22, and its president, Nick Greggains, is assuming all of Kerr’s responsibilities effective immediately. Novatae …
Vermont Seeks Federal Disaster Declaration for July Rainstorm Damage
Vermont Governor Phil Scott has submitted a formal request to President Donald J. Trump for a major disaster declaration to help communities in Caledonia and Essex counties recover costs for repairing public infrastructure damage caused by rainfall and severe flooding …
Telecom Outage Halted Arriving Flights at Newark Airport, FAA Says
A telecom frequency outage prompted the Federal Aviation Administration Thursday to halt arriving flights at Newark Liberty International Airport for more than an hour, the latest tech issue to snarl flights at the airport near New York City. Flightradar24, a …
People Moves: Carpenter Taps Aon’s Goodman for Newly Created Role of Chief Client & Growth Officer; Aon Promotes Anderson as Head of Professional Services
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at the brokers Guy Carpenter and Aon. A summary of these new hires follows here. Carpenter Taps Aon’s Goodman for New Role of Chief Client & Growth Officer Guy Carpenter, the reinsurance …
Former Alfa Agent in Georgia Pleads Guilty to Misusing Premium Payments
A former Alfa insurance agent in Georgia pleaded guilty Wednesday to using more than $200,000 from one policyholder to cover other expenses, including the premium payments for other insureds. Jeremy Lasseter, of Warner Robins, Georgia, near Macon, was indicted in …
Peloton Must Face Shareholder Lawsuit Over Post-Pandemic Outlook
Peloton Interactive must face a lawsuit claiming it defrauded shareholders by masking excess inventory of its home exercise equipment as the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic passed, a divided federal appeals court ruled on Wednesday. Reversing a lower court ruling, …
Ford to Recall Hundreds of Thousands of Vehicles Over Instrument Panel, Leak Issues
Ford Motor Company is recalling more than 355,000 trucks in the U.S over a issue with the instrument panel display, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Aug. 27. The recall affects certain Ford 2025-2026 models – F-550 SD, …
Wildfire Burning in Central California Forest Area Is Latest Blaze of Concern
A fast-growing wildfire burning in central California’s Sierra National Forest in Fresno County in a remote area is the latest blaze of concern for firefighters. The Garnet Fire has burned more than 13,900 acres and is 0% contained, according to …
How Climate Variability Threatens Corn Growers
Robb Rynd and his brother grew up farming and wanted to do more of it outside their day jobs, so they went in together on what’s now a little over 200 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and sorghum. Last year …
Crumbling Michigan Dam Reveals Potential Risks of Private Hydroelectric Ownership
Amid stacked rows of brightly colored plastic kayaks and canoes, Khrystal Crosno recently helped an Ann Arbor family begin a floating trip along the scenic AuTrain River. The Earl family should spot turtles, herons and river otters during the 7-mile …
Texas Serial Arsonist Charged With Starting Hay Bale Fires
A serial arsonist in Lavaca County, Texas pleaded guilty to one count of felony vehicle arson and admitted to starting six hay bale fires dating to 2024, the Texas Department of Insurance announced this week. The Hallettsville Police Department arrested …
Louisiana Governor: No ‘Immediate Danger’ After Auto Plant Fire
Following a massive fire on Friday at an automotive lubricant plant in southeast Louisiana, residents are reporting soot on cars and oily residue in nearby bodies of water. But Gov. Jeff Landry said that there is no indication of an …
20 Years Later, Hurricane Katrina’s Impact Echoes in Models, Mitigation and Reforms
Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina swamped parts of Louisiana and Mississippi, the property insurance sector is better prepared for another catastrophic storm and the litigation that may follow, according to industry leaders. They point to tighter insurance policy language and …
West Virginia Lags Behind in Sites for New Businesses, but That Is Changing
On the Ohio River in Wood County, officials are clearing hurdles to prepare sites for new businesses. Two locations, 70 acres of farmland and a sprawling industrial park, are set to become suitable for development, thanks to the first $150,000 …
Florida Uses Highway Weigh Stations as Immigration Check Points
Florida law enforcement will begin asking commercial truck drivers about their immigration status during inspections at highway weigh stations after a turnpike crash killed three people earlier this month. State Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and state Attorney General James Uthmeier, …
Sompo to Acquire Aspen for $3.5 Billion to Expand Global Access
Sompo Holdings, a subsidiary of Sompo International Holdings, said it has an agreement in place to acquire Aspen Insurance Holdings for about $3.5 billion to further its geographical reach outside of its home territory. Tokyo-based Sompo early this year announced …
OpenAI, Altman Sued Over ChatGPT’s Role in Teen’s Suicide
The parents of a teen who died by suicide after ChatGPT coached him on methods of self harm sued OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman on Tuesday, saying the company knowingly put profit above safety when it launched the GPT-4o version …