Corps Revises Pearl River Flood Study in Mississippi, Sets New Comment Period
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has released a revised study on potential flood controls for the part of the Pearl River that runs along Jackson, narrowing its focus to two proposals, and only one of them would resemble the …
People Moves: Tennessee Names New Insurance Examinations Director
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance announced promotions to key insurance regulatory, emergency services and management roles. Bryant Cummings, with 23 years at the department, was named director of insurance examinations, TDCI said in a statement. He will lead …
Former California Insurance Agent Sentenced for $3.7M Fine Art Policy Scam
A former California insurance agent was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison for defrauding a lender out of $3.7 million with bogus applications for fine art insurance policies. Tonja Van Roy, 59, of Las Vegas, but who formerly operated …
When a Disabled Employee Who Undermines Process of Accommodation Is Fired
A hospital lab employee who was fired for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 has lost her claim that she suffered discrimination because her employer failed to accommodate her disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Fourth Circuit …
People Moves: Lawley Names 4 Professionals to Northeast Offices
Insurance agency Lawley, headquartered in Buffalo, New York, named several new professionals across the agency. Anto Almasian is a new surety executive in the Buffalo office. He has expertise in managing a diverse portfolio of clients and an understanding of …
Washington Insurance Commissioner Recovered $100M for Consumers Over 2 Years
The Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner reported it recovered more than $100 million for consumers during a two-year period. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner’s Consumer Advocacy Program closed out the biennium from 2023 to 2025 with a reported …
Texas Counties Have Little Power to Stop Building in Flood-Prone Areas
Camp Mystic, the private summer camp that now symbolizes the deadly Central Texas floods, sat on a tract of land known to be at high risk for a devastating flood. Nearly 1.3 million Texas homes are similarly situated in parts …
Kansas Insurance Commissioner Schmidt Announces Run for Governor
Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt announced her bid to run for Governor of Kansas in 2026. Schmidt, a lifelong Republican, began her career as a pharmacist after graduating from the University of Kansas. She has worked for over 40 years …
Lemonade Expands Car Insurance to Indiana
Lemonade announced this week the expansion of its car insurance product in Indiana. With this addition, Lemonade Car is now available in states representing approximately 42% of the U.S. car insurance market. Lemonade’s existing customers in the state already account …
Impostor Uses AI to Impersonate Rubio, Contact Foreign and US Officials
The State Department is warning U.S. diplomats of attempts to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio and possibly other officials using technology driven by artificial intelligence, according to two senior officials and a cable sent last week to all embassies …
People Moves: Hull & Company-Texas Promotes Wilkins, Hires Gambino to Underwriter/Broker Roles
Hull & Company-Texas, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, promoted Brandt Wilkins to underwriter/broker. Wilkins has an extensive background in the commercial wholesale business. He has been with Hull Texas for the last three years managing a book with emphasis in the …
People Moves: Leadership Transition at WorldTrips as Hsia Appointed CEO; Carney Assumes Role of Chairman
Tokio Marine HCC, based in Houston, Texas, announced a key leadership transition at its travel-focused subsidiary, WorldTrips, a leading provider of travel insurance located in Carmel, Indiana. Mark Carney will transition from his role as CEO of WorldTrips to become …
Reliance Global Completes Sale of Ohio’s Fortman Insurance Services
Reliance Global Group announced it has completed an asset sale of Ottawa, Ohio-based Fortman Insurance Services, wholly owned subsidiary, for $5 million in cash. The transaction marks the successful execution of a strategic initiative to monetize a non-core asset and …
People Moves: WTW Hires Kharkavets as North America Head of ICT Claims
WTW, with U.S. headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, appointed Alena Kharkavets as North American head of claims in its insurance consulting and technology (ICT) business. Kharkavets comes to WTW from Intact Financial Corporation, where she held progressively senior roles and spent …
Intense Downpours are More Frequent, But Flooding Severity Remains Hard to Predict
It’s not just Texas and North Carolina. Intense rain is falling more frequently in many areas of the U.S. — though where it occurs and whether it causes catastrophic flooding is largely a matter of chance, according to experts. More …
Car Manufacturer Sued for Refusing to Allow Jewish Employee to Observe the Sabbath
FCA US, LLC, an international automobile manufacturer of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Fiat car brands, violated federal law by refusing to accommodate an employee’s request to observe the Sabbath and take unpaid leave for Passover, the U.S. Equal Employment …
White Mountains Buys Majority Ownership of Distinguished Programs for $230M
White Mountains Insurance Group on Monday said it has a deal in place to acquire about 50% of Distinguished Programs for $230 million. With the buy of the outstanding equity shares, White Mountains will own 51% of Distinguished, an independent …
SEC, SolarWinds Reach Settlement to End Lawsuit Related to 2020 Breach
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and software company SolarWinds Corp. have reached a settlement, ending a federal lawsuit that alleged investor fraud and known cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Early this month the SEC and SolarWinds jointly filed to stay the case, …
Chantal Flooding Forces Dozens to Flee Homes in North Carolina
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Floodwaters from the remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal swept a woman in her car from a rural road and forced dozens of people to flee their homes, officials in North Carolina said Monday. Parts of …
Containment Increases on California Wildfire That Forced Evacuations
Firefighters are making progress on the biggest wildfire in California this year. Containment has increased on the Madre Fire to 35%. The wildfire on the central coast of California has burned 80,603 acres, prompting evacuation orders and closing part of …