New York’s Delayed Retail Worker Safety Act Goes into Effect June 2
Originally set to go into effect Jan. 31, New York’s new law offers workers more protections against workplace violence and harassment. The Retail Worker Safety Act (S. 8358B/A. 8947C), signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Sept. 4, 2024, requires …
FDA Suspends Food Safety Quality Checks After Staff Cuts
The Food and Drug Administration is suspending a quality control program for its food testing laboratories as a result of staff cuts at the Department of Health and Human Services, according to an internal email seen by Reuters. The proficiency …
Uber Spends Six Figures on Ads in Latest NY Insurance Reform Push
Uber Technologies Inc. is spending six figures on advertisements in New York in its latest appeal to lawmakers to address issues stemming from the insolvency of the city’s largest taxi insurer. The rideshare giant launched the campaign on Tuesday as …
USI Says Lockton, Former Team Leader Poached Workers, Harmed Client Relations
USI Insurance Services, one of the largest brokerages in the country, has filed suit against a former sales team leader and another powerhouse broker, Lockton, accusing them of poaching employees and harming client relationships. Elisia Hahnenberg, who began her career …
Federal Judge Blocks Labor Department From Enforcing DEI Ban for Contractors
A federal judge on Tuesday issued a preliminary injunction that prevents the U.S. Department of Labor from requiring government contractors and grant recipients to certify they do not operate any diversity, equity and inclusion programs that run afoul of anti-discrimination …
Major Florida Grower to Build New Home Development After Ending Citrus Operations
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — One of Florida’s biggest citrus growers plans to build a 3,000-acre (1,200 hectare) community in southwest Florida, just months after announcing it was abandoning its citrus-growing operations at the end of this year’s season. Alico, …
New Hampshire Regulates Use of Technology in Auto Claims, Property Underwriting
The New Hampshire Insurance Department (NHID) has issued a bulletin clarifying insurers’ obligations when using virtual claims adjustment systems to assess automobile damage. That guidance came in response to a growing number of insurers relying on photo and video submissions …
Insurtech 1Fort Raises $7.5M to Support AI Binding Tech for Brokers
1Fort, the AI platform for business insurance, announced it raised $7.5 million in an oversubscribed funding round led by Bonfire Ventures. The round also included Draper Associates (Tim Draper); Karim Atiyeh, the founder of Ramp; and participation from all existing …
People Moves: Specialty MGA Appoints 2 Senior Underwriters for Africa & Middle East; DUAL Europe Expands Marine Business With New Team in Hamburg, Germany
Specialty MGA Appoints 2 Senior Underwriters for Africa & Middle East Specialty MGA Africa & Middle East, part of MNK Group and a sister company of Specialty MGA UK, announced the appointment of two new senior underwriters as it strengthens …
Black Residents Get Most of the Pollution But Few Jobs From Chemical Industry: Study
Residents of the mostly Black communities sandwiched between chemical plants along the lower Mississippi River have long said they get most of the pollution but few of the jobs produced by the region’s vast petrochemical industry. A new study led …
Former Texas Insurance Broker Charged in Alleged Scam
A former Friendswood, Texas insurance agent turned himself into authorities last week over charges that he fraudulently brokered insurance policies, the Friendswood Police Department announced. Edgar Peralta of Edgar Peralta with Peralta Insurance Brokerage LLC, is charged with theft, a …
Man Arrested Outside UnitedHealthCare Threatened to Shoot Up Headquarters
A man who was arrested outside the headquarters of UnitedHealthcare had a history of mental health issues and threatened to shoot up corporate facilities, according to charges filed Tuesday. The 26-year-old was charged Tuesday in Hennepin County District Court with …
Marsh McLennan Reports Organic Q1 Growth of 4%, a Decrease From Q1 2024
Marsh McLennan reported consolidated revenue during the first quarter of $7.1 billion, an increase of 9% compared with Q1 2024, or 4% on an underlying (organic) basis. MMC had organic growth of 9% in Q1 2024. Q1 operating income was …
EPA Considers Weakening Regulations on Coal Ash Disposal
In 2022, federal officials rebuked a major coal plant next to the Ohio River for letting coal waste — in a pile so big it could fill the Dallas Cowboys’ football stadium twice over — threaten groundwater with heavy metal …
Coal Country Voices Say Closure of MSHA Offices Endanger Mine Safety
Retired coal miner Stanley “Goose” Stewart questions whether it’s safe for anyone to work in the industry right now. The Department of Government Efficiency, created by President Donald Trump and run by Elon Musk, has been targeting federal agencies for …
AM Best Revises Outlooks to Negative for Virginia’s Loudoun Mutual Insurance Co.
AM Best has revised the outlooks to negative from stable of Loudoun Mutual Insurance Co. of Waterford, Virginia based on the “deterioration in Loudoun’s underwriting and operating performance” in recent years and corresponding “decline in overall risk-adjusted capitalization.” At the …
Business Moves: NSM Completes Sale of Commercial Division to New Mountain Capital; Compre Buys Covea’s CSE Group
Specialty insurer NSM Insurance Group said it has completed the sale of its U.S. commercial insurance division to investment firm New Mountain Capital. The agreement includes NSM’s portfolio of 15 niche insurance programs across property/casualty, accident & health, and reinsurance—as …
China Bans ‘Smart’ and ‘Autonomous’ Driving Terms From Vehicle Ads
China is banning automakers from using the terms “smart driving” and “autonomous driving” when they advertise driving assistance features, and will tighten rules around such technology upgrades, the government told industry representatives, according to a transcript of a meeting. The …
Lloyd’s Broker Charged Over Alleged Ecuador Bribes
UK fraud cops have charged an insurance broker with bribery, after a four-year probe into alleged corruption involving state-run insurance contracts in Ecuador. The Serious Fraud Office accused United Insurance Brokers Ltd. of failing to prevent associates from bribing state …
Viewpoint: A Favorable Prognosis—Healthcare at the Forefront of Cyber Risk
Healthcare organizations continue to find themselves at the forefront of cyber risk. Exposures such as IT supply chain dependencies, website tracking litigation, ransomware attacks, new security regulations, and data breach class actions put healthcare organizations of all sizes at high …