INSURANCE NEWS
National Flood Insurance Program’s Authority to Expire in December
The National Flood Insurance Program is once again set to expire in two months. Early last month, NFIP’s authority to operate was renewed when the president signed legislation passed by Congress to keep NFIP running until midnight Dec. 12. According …
Heffernan Insurance Acquires Walterry Brokers of Maryland
California-based Heffernan Insurance Brokers has acquired Walterry Insurance Brokers, an independent insurance agency based in Clinton, Maryland. The Walterry team joined Heffernan effective May 1, 2026. Established in 1968, Walterry Insurance Brokers specializes in media liability, professional liability, and business …
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Acquires Irish MGA Ornella Underwriting Ltd.
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced that its specialist underwriting subsidiary Pen Underwriting has acquired Wexford, Ireland-based Ornella Underwriting Ltd. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Ornella is a managing general agent (MGA) providing a diverse range of commercial …
Six Charged for Roles in ‘Smash-and-Grab’ Robberies of Jewelry Stores
Six people have been charged for their alleged roles in “smash-and-grab” robberies targeting jewelry stores across New Jersey in 2025 and 2026, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. According to prosecutors, masked and gloved perpetrators used crow bars and/or sledgehammers to …
Google Accused of Overcharging 20 Million Consumers in UK Class Action
Google was accused of overcharging Android app developers for over a decade, leading to inflated prices on the Play Store for about 20 million UK customers. The US giant’s 30% levy for digital purchases violated competition law and consumers affected …
Iran Ramps Up Ship Attacks in Hormuz as Oil, Gas Flows Rise
Iran has increased the pace of attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz in recent days, just as oil shipments through the world’s most important energy chokepoint approach prewar levels. UK Maritime Trade Operations has reported nine attacks in …
Don’t Sweat the Heatwave, El Niño Is Cooking up Some Raucous Weather for California
Most of the attention on California’s weather is focused right now on an unusual October heat wave with triple-digit temperatures in some areas, but talk of “atmospheric rivers” bringing crashing waves, pounding rain and snow by the feet to the …
Volkswagen Sets Aside £725 Million for UK Car Finance Payout
The UK financing arm of Volkswagen AG has made a £725 million ($960 million) provision to cover the costs of a plan to compensate British customers who were overcharged for car loans. It’s the first time that Volkswagen Financial Services …
Gulf Coast on Alert for First Hurricane of 2026
A tropical depression in the Atlantic is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane and bring heavy rainfall and high winds to the central Gulf Coast this weekend. Tropical Depression 9 is expected to impact southeastern Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle, …
Weather Damage Turning Into Long-Term Debt for Homeowners: Report
A new report revealed half of U.S. homeowners paid out of pocket for weather damage the past three years, and only 22% feel very financially prepared for an unexpected weather repair, according to tech-native insurance group Hippo Holdings. Hippo’s third …
McDonald’s Hit With Class Action Alleging AI-Powered Menu Price-Fixing
McDonald’s has been sued in federal court in Chicago in a proposed nationwide class action alleging the fast-food company illegally coordinates menu prices across its franchises and company-owned restaurants through an AI-powered pricing system. The lawsuit, filed on Oct. 2, …
SpaceX Seeks Approval for Florida Gas Pipeline to Support Cape Canaveral Launches
Elon Musk’s SpaceX SPCX.O is seeking approval to build a natural gas pipeline in Florida to supply fuel for its rocket launched from Cape Canaveral, according to a state regulatory filing from September. A SpaceX subsidiary, Coastal Connect Services (CCS), …