COVU Acquires Texas’ Uno Insurance Services
COVU, Inc., an AI-native customer servicing platform for the insurance industry announced the acquisition of Uno Insurance Services, a fast-growing Texas-based agency with a stronghold in Houston’s Spanish-speaking communities and a track record of revenue growth through targeted acquisitions. This …
BMS Group Acquires Turkish Broker Oria
BMS Group, the London-based independent re/insurance broker, has acquired Istanbul, Turkey-based Oria Sigorta ve Reasürans Brokerliği A.Ş. Financial details were not provided. Founded in 2019, Oria is an independent insurance and reinsurance broking firm that has built a strong reputation …
Former Brewers Player Sues Reds Over Career-Ending Injury
Former major league outfielder/first baseman Darin Ruf is suing the Cincinnati Reds for damages after he suffered a career-ending injury while crashing into an uncovered tarp roller at Great American Ballpark two years ago. The lawsuit filed Thursday in the …
The Biggest US Oil Field Is at Risk of Poisonous Water Leaks, Texas Warns
Texas regulators are warning that wastewater from fracking in the biggest US oil basin is causing a “widespread” increase in underground pressure — a development that risks hindering crude output and harming the environment. Shale oil wells in the Permian …
Missouri DCI Estimates High Uninsured Rates in St. Louis Amidst Tornado Recovery
The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance released preliminary uninsured estimates for properties in the St. Louis in response to the F3 tornado that struck the region on Friday, May 16. DCI Department Director Angela Nelson said the department collects …
Poland Says Key Infrastructure at Risk After Baltic Sea Incident
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned on Thursday that the Baltic Sea is becoming “a new area of confrontation” with Russia, putting the country’s critical infrastructure increasingly at risk. His warning comes a day after Polish authorities said a sanctioned …
Viewpoint: The Vital Role of Claim Professionals After Cyberattacks
A crime victim will need a deep bench when responding to a cyber incident. While the role of brokers, privacy counsel and forensic investigators is well understood, the contribution of insurance claim professionals cannot be overlooked. A victim may have …
Crypto DeFi Project Cetus Protocol Suffers Security Breach
Cetus Protocol, a decentralized crypto exchange and key liquidity provider on the Sui blockchain, said it lost approximately $223 million in a security breach. The project confirmed the incident in a post on X, formerly Twitter, stating that its smart …
US ‘Not Convinced’ About Lower G7 Price Cap on Russian Oil, European Official Says
A European official said on Thursday that the United States is “not convinced” about lowering the Group of Seven nations (G7) price cap on Russian crude oil. The European Union has proposed revising the cap down to an indicative level …
Four Die as Floods Hammer Area North of Sydney, With More Rain Coming
At least four people died and thousands are without power as severe storms lashed Australia’s most populous state. Large swaths of New South Wales state remain on high alert for floods and extreme weather. Heavy rainfall is expected to continue …
In Lawsuit Over Teen’s Death, Judge Rejects Free Speech Rights for AI Chatbots
A federal judge on Wednesday rejected arguments made by an artificial intelligence company that its chatbots are protected by the First Amendment — at least for now. The developers behind Character.AI are seeking to dismiss a lawsuit alleging the company’s …
European Officials Weigh Response to US Efforts to Thwart Local DEI Programs
European officials are weighing how to respond to US efforts to thwart local DEI programs, as the two regions come closer than ever to clashing over anti-discrimination policies. US embassies across Europe have spent the past few weeks sending letters …
‘Big Beautiful’ Tax Breaks for Insurance Agents in Bill Passed by House, Says Big I
The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America celebrated a “significant victory” for independent agents with the passage of a sweeping tax bill this week by the House of Representatives. The so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” of tax reform makes much …
Underwriters of the Future Are Constant Partners With Agents, Carrier Exec Says
The future of underwriting will be built on closer relationships between carriers and insurance agents, with carriers working hand-in-hand with agencies to maximize profits from books of business. That was the word from Chad Combs, vice president of personal lines …
Georgia Tort Reform Law Means New Hurdles for Injured People and Attorneys
On April 21, 2025, Georgia lawmakers enacted sweeping tort reform through Senate Bills 68 and 69, signaling a significant recalibration of the state’s civil litigation framework. While proponents claim these reforms will reduce “frivolous lawsuits” and lower insurance costs, the …
Former Harvard Morgue Manager Pleads Guilty To Selling Stolen Human Remains
The former manager of the Harvard Medical School Morgue this week pled guilty to interstate transport of stolen human remains. Acting U.S. Attorney Attorney John Gurganus in Pennsylvania reported that Cedric Lodge, of Goffstown, New Hampshire, admitted that, from 2018 …
Ships Have Been Hitting Brooklyn Bridge for Years But Without Fatalities Until Now
A Mexican navy tall ship’s fatal collision with the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday highlighted a hazard that has worried seafarers for nearly 150 years. Even before construction on the bridge was finished in the late 19th century, the topmast of …
Massachusetts Hacker to Plead Guilty to PowerSchool Data Breach
A Massachusetts man has agreed to plead guilty to hacking cloud-based education software provider PowerSchool and stealing data pertaining to millions of students and teachers that hackers used to extort the company and school districts into paying ransoms. Matthew Lane, …
People Moves: Big I New York Elects Gonyo as Board Chair and 4 Regional Directors
Big I New York, the trade association for independent insurance agents in New York, elected Kelly Gonyo as chair of the board for the 2025–2026 term. Gonyo is the founder and president of Blue Line Insurance Agency, headquartered in Lake …
State Farm Still Wants a 30% Rate Increase in California
State Farm isn’t done seeking a rate increase in California, upping its request a week after getting the OK for a large rate hike to what the company had originally wanted before being rejected and agreeing to an interim deal …