The World’s Plastic Glut Is Set to Get Much Worse by 2040, Study Finds
Despite clear evidence that plastic is clogging oceans and beaches and breaking down into microplastics that enter our bodies, humans are continuing to produce the material at accelerating rates. The result: Global plastic pollution will hit 280 million metric tons …
Deadly Floods’ $20 Billion Toll Shows Asia’s Rising Climate Risk
Devastating floods have killed more than 1,300 people and caused at least $20 billion in losses since late last month across parts of South and Southeast Asia, underscoring the increasing risks from climate change and extreme weather for the region’s …
FEMA Puts Whistleblowers Back on Leave After Reinstatements
Days after reinstating a group of Federal Emergency Management Agency employees who raised concerns about the government’s disaster preparedness, federal officials have placed those whistleblowers back on administrative leave. The move comes hours after CNN first reported the return to …
People Moves: Neumann Appointed Howden US Financial Lines Claims Leader
Howden, with U.S. headquarters in Miami, Florida, appointed Elizabeth Neumann as executive vice president, financial lines claims leader. Neumann will be based in New York. Neumann joins Howden from CAC Specialty, where she spent the last two years as CAC’s …
Surveys Show Concerns About Florida Market, But Consumers Are Warming Up
New surveys of Florida homeowners show continued concerns about property insurance, premiums and hurricanes, but policyholders seem to be breathing a little easier in recent months. A poll by Florida Atlantic University found that 49% of respondents are concerned about …
Trump Outlines Plan to Unwind Biden-Era Car Mileage Mandates
President Donald Trump unveiled his administration’s plan to relax stringent Biden-era fuel efficiency standards, casting the change as a way to lower consumer costs. “Today my administration is taking historic action to lower costs for American consumers, protect American auto …
People Movers Still in Use at Dulles Airport Despite Recent Crashes
People movers will continue darting across Dulles International Airport for years to come, despite recent incidents that have revived safety questions for passengers who use them. At the Nov. 19 meeting of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) board of …
Keen Appointed Oregon Insurance Commissioner
T.K. Keen has been named Oregon’s insurance commissioner following a period serving as an interim commissioner. Keen, who has been acting insurance commissioner since being promoted in late May, was appointed to the role by Oregon Department of Consumer and …
Viewpoint: Prudent or Not, an Insured’s Extra Expense Must Be Strictly ‘Necessary’
In a well-reasoned recent opinion, an Illinois appellate court strictly construed a cyber policy, ruling that reasonable—but contractually unnecessary—payments made by an insured following a cyberattack did not constitute insured “extra expense.” While the decision is designated as “unpublished,” it …
Instacart Sues New York City Over Worker Pay, Tipping Laws
Instacart sued New York City on Tuesday, seeking to block enforcement of five laws affecting the grocery delivery company, including higher minimum pay for app-based workers and greater disclosures to customers about tipping. According to a complaint filed in Manhattan …
Nine Insurers OK’d to Sell Group Health to Washington Employers
Washington Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer approved nine health insurers to sell group health plans to small employers in 2026. The insurers are: Asuris Northwest Health, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest, Kaiser Foundation Health Plans of WA, Kaiser Foundation …
Kansas Saves Elders About $5M from Financial Exploitation with New Legislation
Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt announced state efforts have prevented over $4.97 million from going to bad actors through the Protect Vulnerable Adults from Financial Exploitation Act. “Identification and prevention of financial exploitation in vulnerable populations is a priority for …
Lawsuit Alleges USA Gymnastics, SafeSport Failed to Stop Sexual Abuse
Two gymnasts who say they were sexually abused at an elite academy in Iowa filed lawsuits Monday against the sport’s oversight bodies, alleging they failed to stop Sean Gardner from preying on girls despite repeated complaints about the coach’s behavior. …
Texas Lawmakers Criticize Local Leaders for Rejecting Flood Warning System Funding
Three weeks after flash floods in Texas’ Hill Country killed more than 100 people, state lawmakers chastised Kerr County leaders for rejecting money a year earlier to create a warning system that could have alerted residents to rapidly rising water. …
Uber Teams with Avride to Offer Robotaxi Rides in Dallas in Latest Expansion
Uber Technologies Inc. is launching autonomous rides with Avride Inc. in Dallas as part of a previously announced partnership, marking the latest US city where the ride-hailing giant is offering such a service. Customers who request an UberX, Uber Comfort …
Four Convicted of Collision Fraud Involving a Rideshare Driver in California
Four people were convicted of felony insurance fraud and assault for faking an auto collision that involved a rideshare driver in San Bernardino, California. According to the California Department of Insurance, two of the four people were identified as Kalil …
San Francisco Sues Kraft, Coca-Cola Over Ultra-Processed Foods
The city of San Francisco sued Kraft, Mondelez, Coca-Cola and other makers of ultra-processed foods on Tuesday, accusing them of knowingly sickening California residents with addictive and harmful products. City Attorney David Chiu filed the lawsuit in San Francisco Superior …
Illinois Attorney General Announces $120M Settlement With Monsanto
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a $120 million settlement with Monsanto Company (Monsanto) and affiliates Solutia Inc. and Pharmacia LLC over the environmental and health effects of Monsanto’s decades-long production of polychlorinated biphenyls, known as PCBs. Raoul’s office filed …
RSUM Rebrands NAPL as Ryan Financial Lines
Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers (“RSUM”), the underwriting management division of Ryan Specialty (NYSE: RYAN), announced the formal rebranding of their North American Professional Liability (“NAPL”) team to Ryan Financial Lines, RSUM’s managing general underwriter that specializes in a wide range …
Louisiana Department of Insurance Holds Pop-Up Office in Lake Charles
The Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) is holding an Insurance Pop-Up Office from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 2, and Wednesday, Dec. 3., for residents of Lake Charles and the surrounding area. The event is at the …