PVC Pipes Swept Away by Helene Still Dominate Cleanup of NC River
They’re piled on river banks, lodged in uprooted trees, embedded in sediment and jammed under logs. Many are tangled in mounds of debris up to two stories high. Two years after Hurricane Helene leveled forests, bulldozed houses and filled western …
Trump’s Executive Order on Dyed Diesel Provides Little Relief for Farmers and Truckers
Farmers, truckers and economists say a move to cut taxes on diesel will provide little relief from record-high fuel prices that have soared since the U.S. attacked Iran months ago. Industry groups said they appreciate President Donald Trump’s executive order …
Texas Reports Homeowners and Auto Rate Decreases
Homeowners insurance rates are beginning to come down in Texas, according to the most recent data from the state insurance department. Since the start of July, insurance companies have filed an average 4.3% rate decrease on homeowners policies. ASI Lloyds, …
San Antonio Car Dealerships to Pay $430K In Sex Discrimination Lawsuit
Benson Enterprises, Inc., the operator of automotive dealerships including Ingram Park Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in San Antonio, will pay $430,000 and furnish other relief to settle a sex-based harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity …
Hurricane Isaias Reaches Cat 3 Status as Insurers, Adjusters, Property Owners Prepare
Isaias suddenly strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane as of Friday morning, Oct. 9, and remained on course to hit the Pensacola-Panhandle area of Florida with more than six feet of storm surge, strong winds and as much as 15 …
Markets/Coverages: Amica Offers Free Flume Water Leak Monitoring to Insureds
Amica Insurance announced a program that provides policyholders with access to a smart water leak detection monitoring service. Under a partnership with technology firm Flume, Amica home policyholders in three states can enroll to receive a no-cost Flume Smart Home …
UK Court Refuses Permission to Appeal in Diesel Emissions Lawsuits Against Carmakers
London’s High Court on Thursday refused claimants permission to appeal against its July decision which broadly found in favor of some of the world’s biggest carmakers over diesel emissions. But lawyers representing around 1.6 million claimants said they would apply …
AI Pricing Lawsuit Against McDonald’s Raises New Antitrust Questions
A federal antitrust lawsuit against McDonald’s this week claims the fast-food giant is using AI-powered tools to fix menu prices, marking the latest case to allege companies are relying on new technologies to collude and harm consumers. Plaintiffs have sued …
South Korea, Japan Buffeted by Hacks as AI Lowers Bar for Cybercriminals
South Korean and Japanese companies are racing to strengthen cyber defenses after a wave of attacks that cybersecurity experts say are highlighting how AI may be lowering the bar for criminals with limited technical skills. Nine South Korean banks and …
India Insurance Regulator Eyes 2027 Start for Commission Caps
India’s insurance regulator may implement sweeping distribution reforms as early as January, pushing ahead with an overhaul that has battered shares of insurers and brokers. The effective dates under consideration are Jan. 1 and April 1, Girija Subramanian, an executive …
Executives Take Pay Cuts Over Staff Misconduct at Prudential Japan
Top executives at Prudential Financial Inc.’s Japan unit will take pay cuts after a panel of outside experts issued a report on widespread employee misconduct involving customers’ money. President Hiromitsu Tokumaru and two others will take a 30% reduction in …
People Moves: Selective Insurance Names Kalia Chief Investment Officer
Selective Insurance Group Inc., headquartered in Short Hills, New Jersey, appointed Vaibhav (Vaib) Kalia as executive vice president and chief investment officer. Kalia has served as interim chief investment officer since June. In this role, Kalia oversees Selective’s investment portfolio …
A Timeline of Developments in AI Safety Since the Attack on Hugging Face
In one alarming announcement after another, artificial intelligence companies in recent months have shared examples of their technology acting in ways that appeared to evade instructions from humans. The episodes have highlighted the vulnerabilities in AI security and raised questions …
AI Bubble Risks Worst S&P 500 Crash Since 2008, Strategist Says
The head of market strategy at a London investment bank has a stark warning for investors: the artificial-intelligence trade may soon be over in what could trigger the most severe market crash since the global financial crisis. Equities have powered …
Viewpoint: The ‘Unbundled’ Insurer Emerges in Age of AI as Value Chain Fragments
A roofing contractor in Florida buys a general liability policy. Between him and the capital that stands behind the policy sits a supply chain: a retail agent, a wholesale broker, an underwriter, a licensed carrier, a reinsurance panel and, increasingly, …
Hordes of Teens on E-Bikes Force Suburbs to Rewrite Road Rules
Authorities are cracking down on the latest teenage craze wreaking havoc in communities across the US: e-bikes. Police were called when dozens of e-bikes and e-motos swarmed the streets of Bend, Oregon, on a recent afternoon. In Orange County, California, …
PG&E Warns of Possible Weekend Power Shutoffs Amid Windy California Weather
PG&E Corp. is warning that it may shut off power to some customers in northern California this weekend as dry winds elevate the risk of wildfires. California’s biggest utility may switch off power in as many as seven counties north …
AI Insiders Voice Alarms to NYC Council as Local Governments Take Up Safety Concerns
Artificial intelligence insiders warned New York City’s leaders about the dangers of the emerging technology on Monday, calling for greater oversight as local governments move to respond to mounting concerns that the systems could endanger humanity. At a hearing of …
Alliant Insurance Acquires New Hampshire’s Melcher & Prescott
California-based specialty insurance broker Alliant Insurance Services has expanded its presence in New England through the acquisition of Melcher & Prescott, a long-time independent insurance agency in Laconia, New Hampshire. Founded in 1862, Melcher & Prescott provides commercial insurance, employee …
Army Report Cites Systematic Failures in 2025 Helicopter and Jet Collision That Killed 67
The collision of an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport last year that killed 67 people was the result of several systemic failures, according to a US Army investigative report …