Oregon DOJ Clears Way for New Ag Worker Housing Safety Rules in Oregon
The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division acted within its legal authority when adopting enhanced safety and health regulations for agricultural labor housing, the Oregon Department of Justice confirmed. The clarification for OSHA dispels doubts regarding the division’s capacity to …
Alabama Senate Advances New Regs on Pharmacy Benefit Managers
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Two blocks from the Alabama Statehouse, a black wreath hung on the door of Adams Drugs — a symbol to draw attention to the number of neighborhood pharmacies that have closed, or are in danger of …
New Hampshire Settles Youth Center Abuse Claim for $10 Million
The New Hampshire attorney general’s office has agreed to a $10 million settlement in the case of a man who alleged that he was gang-raped in a stairwell at the state’s youth detention center in the 1990s. Michael Gilpatrick’s lawsuit …
Georgia Lawmakers Approve Major Tort Reform, Overhaul of Legal System
ATLANTA (AP) — Republican Gov. Brian Kemp’s measure to limit lawsuits in Georgia received House approval Thursday, poising the state’s litigation landscape for a controversial overhaul after a lengthy lobbying campaign. Supporters of the bill say it will stop “frivolous” …
Gallagher’s Risk Placement Services Acquires Litchfield Special Risks in Texas
Arthur J. Gallagher division Risk Placement Services acquired El Paso, Texas-based Litchfield Special Risks Inc. Bill Brenton and his team will remain in their current location under the direction of Ash Thomas, vice president of the Western Region for RPS. …
Fidelis Partnership Launches International Casualty MGA, Writing Primary, Excess Cover
Pine Walk Capital Ltd., the specialist MGA platform and wholly owned subsidiary of The Fidelis Partnership (TFP), announced the launch of an international casualty MGA called Sevanta Specialty Liability Ltd. Sevanta will focus on niche international specialty liability, writing business …
Auto Insurer Root to Pay New York $975K Over Data Breach
New York Attorney General Letitia James has secured $975,000 in penalties from auto insurance company Root over a data breach that the state says exposed the personal information of about 45,000 New Yorkers. Root does not offer insurance in New …
People Moves: Marsh Promotes Russell as Global Head of Wholesale; Markel Boosts Wholesale Claims Team With 3 Key Promotions, Technical Claims Hire
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at insurance broker Marsh and the insurer Markel. A summary of these new hires follows here. Marsh Promotes Russell as Global Head of Wholesale, Meah as Head of Strategy, Global Placement Marsh, …
UK Pledges Anti-Bribery Cooperation With French, Swiss After US Retreat
British, French and Swiss prosecutors agreed to form a new intelligence sharing partnership in a bid to tackle overseas corruption following the pullback of US authorities from international bribery cases. The three senior prosecutors announced the initiative Thursday [March 20] …
AI Chatter Hits Record on European Earnings Calls Across Sectors
The chatter around artificial intelligence on earnings calls in Europe is scaling new peaks as even companies beyond technology-related sectors are embracing it to boost efficiency and competitiveness. Mentions of “AI” on fourth-quarter earnings calls of companies in the Stoxx …
Michigan Taco Bell Franchises Sued for Sexual Harassment
Six related entities operating Taco Bell restaurants in Michigan violated federal law when they allowed a senior area manager to sexually harass female employees, including multiple teenage employees, he supervised, and fired a local assistant manager the same day she …
As Mountain Glaciers Melt, Risk of Catastrophic Flash Floods Rises for Millions
In mountain ranges around the world, glaciers are melting as global temperatures rise. Europe’s Alps and Pyrenees lost 40% of their glacier volume from 2000 to 2023. These and other icy regions have provided freshwater for people living downstream for …
Texas Measles Outbreak Could Become National Epidemic: Public Health Experts
With its measles outbreak spreading to two additional states, Texas is on track to becoming the cause of a national epidemic if it doesn’t start vaccinating more people, according to public health experts. Measles, a highly contagious disease that was …
Top Fund Managers Ask Federal Court to Dismiss Climate-Related Antitrust Lawsuit
BlackRoc, Vanguard and State Street have asked a federal court in Texas to dismiss a state lawsuit accusing the top fund managers of conspiring through climate activism to discourage coal output, with the firms saying the allegations rest on “half-baked …
Markets/Coverages: SiriusPoint, Broker Holmes Murphy’s Umbrella Excess for Captives
SiriusPoint Ltd., the Bermuda-based specialty insurer and reinsurer, announced a new strategic partnership with the independent insurance broker Holmes Murphy. SiriusPoint has partnered with Holmes Murphy, headquartered in Waukee, Iowa, and its wholly owned subsidiary and managing general agent Innovative …
FCC Chairman Threatens to Block M&A for Companies With DEI
The US Federal Communications Commission is prepared to block mergers and acquisition proposals from companies that promote “invidious” DEI policies, according to chairman Brendan Carr. The move could threaten billions of dollars worth of deals in the communications sector, with …
Transportation Chief to Unveil Plan to Upgrade Air Traffic Control
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will unveil a plan next week to upgrade the aging, under-staffed U.S. air traffic control system next week, he said on Friday. Duffy said earlier this month that he planned to ask Congress for tens of …
NC Supreme Court Says Family Can Sue Schools, Docs Over Unwanted COVID Shot
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina mother and son can sue a public school system and a doctors’ group on allegations they gave the boy a COVID-19 vaccine without consent, the state Supreme Court ruled on Friday, reversing a …
Georgia Lawmakers Approve $300M in Farm and Timber Tax Breaks After Helene
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia lawmakers on Friday approved tax breaks for farmers and timber owners harmed by Hurricane Helene that could be worth nearly $300 million. House members voted unanimously to send the bill to Gov. Brian Kemp for his …
North Carolina Lawmakers OK Another $524M for Hurricane Helene Recovery
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina lawmakers agreed Wednesday to spend another $524 million on still-pressing needs from Hurricane Helene’s historic flooding nearly six months ago, with an emphasis on home and private road repairs, agriculture and infrastructure to aid …