INSURANCE NEWS
California Invests $26M to Recruit More Women into Construction
The California Department of Industrial Relations awarded 25 construction apprenticeship programs $26 million in Equal Representation in Construction Apprenticeship grants to increase access to construction careers for women and disadvantaged communities. This is the second round of ERiCA grant funding. …
Two Adults and Four Children Perish in Maryland House Fire
Two adults and four children perished in a house fire Sunday morning in Waldorf, Maryland, according to state officials. Two other adults escaped and one more was not home when the fire broke out, . The cause of the fire …
Iowa AG Secures Pair of Environment Case Settlements
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced settlements in two cases her office prosecuted on behalf of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Agri Star Meat and Poultry, LLC has agreed to pay a $50,000 penalty and come into full compliance …
Second California Wildfire Prompts Evacuations, Threatens Thousands of Structures
A brush fire in a mountainous area north of Los Angeles has forced thousands of evacuations, becoming one of two ongoing blazes of concern in California. The Canyon fire in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, which started on Thursday afternoon, …
Minnesota Cities Consider Government-Run Marijuana Shops
As some Minnesota cities fret over regulating newly legalized and normalized marijuana sales, others see an opportunity. Elk River is among 13 Minnesota cities considering opening municipally owned cannabis stores. They would be blazing new trails in this regard, as …
Tesla Secures Texas Rideshare Permit for Robotaxi Operation
Tesla Inc. has been granted a rideshare license in Texas, paving the way for the electric-vehicle maker to operate its robotaxi service under new regulations governing autonomous vehicles in the state. Tesla Robotaxi LLC is now listed as a transportation …
Why Experts Say States Need to Get in the Business of Floodplain Buyouts
As flooding becomes an increasingly common and destructive feature of Texas life, housing experts are calling for the creation of a statewide, voluntary buyout program to move residents out of the most high-risk areas. The experts say Texas needs a …
Zurich Insurance Reports Record H1 Profit of $4.2B, Driven by Middle Market, Specialty
Zurich Insurance Group reported some record numbers during the first half: business operating profit (BOP) was up 6% to a record US$4.2 billion and core return on equity hit a best-ever number of 26.3%. What is the reason for Zurich’s …
Former Ironshore, Lexington CEO Kevin Kelley Dies
Long-time industry leader Kevin H. Kelley has died. Kelley was last in the industry with Liberty Mutual Insurance, where he was vice chairman, Global Risk Solutions after joining the company in 2017 when Ironshore was acquired by Liberty Mutual. He …
Two South Carolina Women Charged With Fake Hit-and-Run Scam
Two South Carolina women filed an auto accident claim with First Acceptance Insurance Co. in May and were paid more than $25,500 for bodily injury medical expenses. Then investigators found out that the women had fabricated the entire incident, the …
Homeowners Insurers Still Boosting Rates; Top Carriers Ranked: AM Best
Last year’s sub-100 combined ratio for the homeowners line broke a five-year string of 100-plus figures for the U.S. insurance industry in aggregate—and homeowners insurers are sticking to rate increases to keep profits going, a new report says. According the …
Smith Brothers Acquires Moscato & Associates
Connecticut-based Smith Brothers Insurance announced it acquired Moscato & Associates of Ithaca, New York on August 1, 2025. Moscato & Associates, an independent agency specializing in employee benefits, individual health, and Medicare, will maintain is location in Ithaca. Edward Moscato …