Insurance Journal

Containment Grows Slowly on Megafire in California

Firefighters continue to slowly make gains a massive wildfire burning in two California counties, now the biggest fire in the state this year, reaching “megafire” status. The Gifford Fire is threatening more than 822 structures and has pr...

Posted: Aug 12, 2025

CDC Shooter Believed COVID Vaccine Made Him Suicidal, Father Tells Police

A Georgia man who opened fire on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters, shooting dozens of rounds into the sprawling complex and killing a police officer, had blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicida...

Posted: Aug 12, 2025

Chemours Must Stop Unlawful Pollution of Ohio River, Federal Court Orders

A federal judge ordered the Chemours Chemical Company on Thursday to immediately stop discharging unlawful levels of cancer-causing chemicals into the Ohio River from the company’s Washington Works plant in West Virginia. “Those pollutant...

Posted: Aug 12, 2025

While LA Burned, Rules to Protect Homes From Wildfires Were on Hold

As wildfires raged across Los Angeles in January, a state official parried an email from a resident living on the edge of the conflagration: When would long-delayed regulations designed to protect high-risk homes like hers be implemented? “I do...

Posted: Aug 12, 2025

Musk Says xAI to Take Legal Action Against Apple Over App Store Rankings

Billionaire Elon Musk said on Monday his artificial intelligence startup xAI would take legal action against Apple, accusing the iPhone maker of breaching antitrust regulations in managing the App Store rankings. “Apple is behaving in a manner...

Posted: Aug 12, 2025

Finland Charges Eagle S Tanker Captain, Officers Over Cable Cuts

Finland’s national prosecutor’s office said on Monday it had brought charges against the captain and first and second officers of the Eagle S oil tanker over the cutting of undersea cables in the Gulf of Finland in December. The Georgian...

Posted: Aug 12, 2025

Wildfires Briefly Shut Dardanelles Strait to Shipping as Europe Battles Infernos

Wildfires briefly shut the Dardanelles Strait to shipping on Monday evening, as extreme heat and strong winds fueled blazes across the Mediterranean. The Dardanelles — a vital maritime chokepoint for oil and gas from the Black Sea and Central Asia &#...

Posted: Aug 12, 2025

Update: Wildfire Briefly Shut Dardanelles Strait to Shipping as Europe Battles Infernos

Wildfires briefly shut the Dardanelles Strait to shipping on Monday, as extreme heat and strong winds fueled blazes across the Mediterranean. The Dardanelles — a vital maritime chokepoint for oil and gas from the Black Sea and Central Asia — …

Posted: Aug 12, 2025

Wildfire Briefly Shut Dardanelles Strait to Shipping as Europe Battles Infernos

Wildfires briefly shut the Dardanelles Strait to shipping on Monday, as extreme heat and strong winds fueled blazes across the Mediterranean. The Dardanelles — a vital maritime chokepoint for oil and gas from the Black Sea and Central Asia — …

Posted: Aug 12, 2025

Swiss Re Tackles Longevity Drug Impact With Life Policy Advice

Swiss Re AG issued guidance for underwriters on how to assess life insurance applications of people who show signs of using medications for longevity purposes. Metformin, traditionally used to manage type 2 diabetes, and rapamycin, an immunosuppressa...

Posted: Aug 12, 2025

Typhoon Podul Set to Strengthen Before Hitting Southern Taiwan

Typhoon Podul is expected to intensify as the system tracks toward southern Taiwan, bringing heavy rain and damaging wind gusts before making landfall on Wednesday. The typhoon was 730 kilometers (454 miles) southeast of Taitung City, packing top sus...

Posted: Aug 12, 2025

Update: Typhoon Podul Set to Strengthen Before Hitting Southern Taiwan

Eight of Taiwan’s southern and eastern regional governments decided to shut down schools and offices because of typhoon Podul, which is expected to reach the island on Wednesday, bringing heavy rain and damaging wind gusts. The typhoon was 460...

Posted: Aug 12, 2025

5-Year Cost of Litigation Funding to Commercial Insurers Could Top $25B

“Are you being serious?” Christopher Swift, chair and chief executive officer of The Hartford, was taken aback by a question from an analyst during the company’s second-quarter earnings call about the impact of litigation finance on...

Posted: Aug 12, 2025

Liberty Mutual in First FCPA Settlement Since Enforcement Restarted

Liberty Mutual will give up $4.7 million in profit to settle a U.S. criminal bribery probe into an Indian subsidiary, in the Department of Justice’s first public enforcement action of a federal anti-bribery law it resumed enforcing in June. In...

Posted: Aug 12, 2025

Florida Woman Posed as Nurse and Treated Thousands of Patients, Officials Say

PALM COAST, Fla. (AP) — A Florida woman is accused of posing as a licensed nurse and giving medical care to thousands of patients, authorities said. Autumn Marie Bardisa, 29, of Palm Coast, participated in medical services involving 4,486 people &#82...

Posted: Aug 12, 2025

South Carolina DOI Pitches Rate Cut on Some Credit Property Insurance

The South Carolina Department of Insurance has proposed new rates for credit property insurance, holding the rate steady for household goods but reducing rates for other categories for 2026. Because rate decreases in recent years do not appear to hav...

Posted: Aug 12, 2025

Legacy Risk Solutions Merges With Alabama-Based PointeNorth Insurance

Florida-based Legacy Risk Solutions, a network of independent insurance agencies, has merged with PointeNorth Insurance Group, bringing more options for agents in commercial and personal lines. The combined firm will operate as Legacy Risk Solutions,...

Posted: Aug 12, 2025

Legacy Risk Solutions Merges With Atlanta-Based PointeNorth Insurance

Florida-based Legacy Risk Solutions, a network of independent insurance agencies, has merged with PointeNorth Insurance Group, bringing more options for agents in commercial and personal lines. The combined firm will operate as Legacy Risk Solutions,...

Posted: Aug 12, 2025

Neo-Nazi Leader Sentenced for Planned Maryland Power Grid Attack

The founder of a Florida-based neo-Nazi group has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for conspiring with his girlfriend to plan an attack on Maryland’s power grid in furtherance of their shared racist beliefs. Brandon Russell, 30, was...

Posted: Aug 12, 2025

FAA Proposes to Extend Newark Airport Flight Cuts Until October 2026

The Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday it is proposing to extend flight cuts at Newark, one of the three main airports serving the New York City-area, through October 2026 as it continues to face air traffic controller shortage and &#8230...

Posted: Aug 12, 2025

Colorado Prison Evacuated as Growing Wildfire Becomes One of Largest in State History

A Colorado prison was evacuated as one of the largest wildfires in state history continued to grow, and officials warned residents of remote areas to be ready to leave Sunday as gusty winds and low humidity fed the flames. Evacuation …

Posted: Aug 12, 2025

California Stalls on EV Subsidies as Trump Cuts Federal Rebate

With President Donald Trump set to ax a key electric vehicle tax credit next month, California Governor Gavin Newsom has yet to advance his highly touted proposal to restart the state’s own EV subsidies, according to people familiar with the &#...

Posted: Aug 12, 2025

AIG CEO Zaffino Highlights Integration of GenAI to Create Digital Twin of Business

Are two AIGs better than one? In outlining the work at American International Group (AIG) to integrate generative artificial intelligence, CEO Peter Zaffino said AIG’s intent is to “create a digital twin of our business.” The &#8220...

Posted: Aug 11, 2025

1 Dead, 10 Injured, 1 Missing After US Steel Plant Explosion Near Pittsburgh

One person was killed and at least 10 others hospitalized with injuries after an explosion at a U.S. Steel plant outside of Pittsburgh on Monday. According to Allegheny County Emergency Services, the explosion happened inside a battery operating area...

Posted: Aug 11, 2025

2 Dead, 10 Injured After US Steel Plant Explosion Near Pittsburgh

Two workers were killed and at least 10 other people hospitalized with injuries after an explosion at a U.S. Steel plant outside of Pittsburgh on Monday. According to Allegheny County Emergency Services, the explosion happened inside a battery operat...

Posted: Aug 11, 2025