Latest News & Insights

Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation Announces Staff Changes

The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation announced leadership staff changes. DWC is launching a new program area, AI Innovation and Integration, focused on the responsible, mission-driven use of artificial intelligence to modernize processes and reduce administrative burdens, …

People Moves: Shepherd Insurance Names Kleymeyer as President of Employee Benefits

Shepherd Insurance announced that Matt Kleymeyer has joined the firm as the President of Employee Benefits, further strengthening the organization’s commitment to delivering innovative employee benefits solutions and exceptional client service. Based out of Shepherd’s headquarters in Carmel, Indiana, Kleymeyer …

Texas Panhandle Shaken by Strongest Earthquake to Hit the Region

A 5.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the Texas Panhandle early Thursday morning, one of the strongest recorded in Texas. Effects from the earthquake were felt throughout the rural region and as far as southern Oklahoma and New Mexico. According to the …

Cyclospora Outbreak Linked to Tainted Mexican Lettuce Widens

The cyclosporiasis outbreak that’s sickened thousands of people in the US is spreading further, as federal health officials linked four more states to tainted iceberg lettuce imported from Mexico. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tied Illinois, Kansas, …

Prudential Reimburses 2.85 Billion Yen After Misconduct Probe

Prudential Financial Inc. said it reimbursed 437 individuals about a total of 2.85 billion yen ($17.4 million) as part of remediation efforts following a regulatory probe into employee misconduct at its Japan business. In addition to the 498 individuals who …

US Mortgage Rates Rise for Third Straight Week

Mortgage rates in the US, already the highest in almost a year, rose for a third week, squeezing affordability as home price growth accelerates. The average for a 30-year, fixed loan climbed to 6.58% from 6.55% a week earlier, Freddie …

Tesla Expands Robotaxi Service to Orlando, Tampa

Tesla this week expanded its robotaxi service to Orlando and Tampa, as the electric-vehicle maker races to prove that it can scale its autonomous ride-hailing business beyond its initial launch markets. The move comes a day before Tesla reports second-quarter …

People Moves: Executive Changes at Hudson Insurance

Odyssey Group Holdings, Inc., based in Stamford, Connecticut, made several leadership changes at its U.S. insurance subsidiary, Hudson Insurance Group, based in New York City. After more than 20 years with the company, Chris Gallagher will retire from Hudson, effective …

Husband and Wife Insurance Brokers Sentenced for Fraud Scheme

A married couple from New Bedford, Massachusetts was sentenced yesterday for a scheme to defraud at least 50 individuals or insurance providers seeking insurance coverage through their business, BL Insurance Brokerage, LLC. According to U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley, a …

Insurer Mapfre Estimates Venezuela Quake Losses at €25 Million

Spanish insurer Mapfre said on Thursday that losses from the June 24 earthquakes in Venezuela would be up to €25 million ($28.5 million), after its first-half net profit grew 9.4% despite storm-related claims in Spain and Portugal and negative currency …

Munich Re Reports €2.2 Billion Profit on ‘Very Low’ Major Losses

Munich Re reported second-quarter proft that exceeded analyst estimates on “very low” major-loss expenditures in its property-casualty reinsurance business. Net income amounted to about €2.2 billion ($2.5 billion) in the three months through June, the Munich-based reinsurer said in a …

US and Allies Say Russian Hackers Stole Emails Without Social Engineering

The United States and more than a dozen allied nations said on Thursday that Russian hackers stole emails from users of the Zimbra email program without having to fool them into opening an attachment or clicking a link. The trick, …

US Strikes Iran From South to North After Trump Threats Over Red Sea Shipping

U.S. missiles struck targets across Iran, reaching as far as its Caspian coast, on Friday after President Donald Trump vowed “major military punishment” for Tehran and its Houthi allies in Yemen for extending the Middle East war to a second …

World Bank Estimates Quakes Cost Venezuela $20 Billion in Damage

The twin earthquakes that hit Venezuela last month may have caused $19.6 billion in physical damage to buildings and infrastructure, or about 18% of gross domestic product, according to a preliminary assessment by the World Bank. Almost half of the …

Russia’s Black Sea Waters Not Safe for Ships Amid Attacks, Moscow Warns

Moscow warned that it is unsafe to navigate in its Black Sea waters after Ukraine has been ramping up attacks on Russia-linked ships in the area. The warning was addressed to all vessels in Russia’s exclusive economic zone in the …

Allianz to Buy HSBC’s Singapore Insurer in $2.1 Billion Deal

Allianz SE agreed to buy HSBC Holdings Plc’s Singapore insurance unit for S$2.7 billion ($2.1 billion), marking a substantial expansion less than two years after another deal in the city-state fell apart. The two firms also agreed to enter a …

Liberty Mutual Introduces Its Newest Brand Character: Liberty Biberty

Liberty Mutual Insurance has introduced its first new brand character in eight years: Liberty Biberty, the embodiment of the warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you have great coverage at a great price. Liberty Mutual first introduced the phrase “Liberty …

Can Captive’s Hands-On Vetting of Bars Provide Answer to SC Liquor Liability Crisis?

For almost eight years now, South Carolina bars, restaurants and music venues have faced a sobering situation brought on by a 2018 state law that requires at least $1 million in liquor liability coverage: Pay unaffordable premiums or shut their …

Florida Teen Suing Meta Over Mental Health Harm Drops Claims Days Before Trial

A Florida teen dropped his lawsuit on Wednesday against Meta Platforms META.O, canceling a Los Angeles trial over claims the social media company’s apps caused his depression and anxiety. The trial, which had been slated to begin on Monday, was …

WCIRB: California Comp Premium Leveled off, But CT Claims Frequency Rose

California workers’ compensation premium growth leveled off as rates stabilize, but rising cumulative trauma claims continue to drive claim frequency higher, a new report shows. The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California released its 2026 State of the System …

People Moves: AIPSO Appoints Willis President and CEO; Canopius Names HSBC’s Alioto as Group COO; Doubtless Adds to North American Leadership

The Automobile Insurance Plans Service Office (AIPSO) appointed Executive Vice President Les Willis as president and CEO. Willis succeeds President and CEO Charles Kwolek, who is retiring after a 32-year career with the organization. Prior to joining AIPSO, Willis served …

Report: Claims Severity Reaches All-Time High, Frequency Declines

All Peril severity reached an all-time high in 2025, rising 25.9% from a year earlier, a new report shows. LexisNexis Risk Solutions released its 2026 U.S. Home Trends Report, which looks at loss cost, claims frequency and severity. Related: Changes …

PG&E’s Data Center Pipeline Surges in Second Quarter

PG&E Corp. reported a 7.6-gigawatt increase in its data center pipeline during the second quarter as the artificial intelligence build-out gains momentum. The California utility’s pipeline of proposed data center projects totaled 12.7 gigawatts at the end of June, up …

Judge Says Zelle Must Face New York AG’s Suit Over ‘Rampant’ Fraud; Zelle to Appeal

A judge rejected Zelle’s bid to dismiss a lawsuit by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who said the electronic payment platform’s refusal to adopt critical safety features enabled fraudsters to steal more than $1 billion from consumers. In a …

Mapfre to Acquire Safety Insurance for $1.54 Billion in Cash Deal

Safety Insurance Group Inc,, a property/casualty insurer in Massachusetts and New England, has agreed to be acquired by Spain’s Mapfre S.A. in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.54 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, a subsidiary of Mapfre …

People Moves: Brown & Riding Names Kane to National Casualty Practice

Brown & Riding to announced that Abe Kane has joined its National Casualty Practice. With over 20 years of industry experience, Kane specializes in casualty solutions for public entities and higher education institutions. His background spans underwriting, reinsurance, and specialty …

War Risk Insurance Costs Surge for Southern Red Sea Voyages After Houthi Attacks

The insurance cost of shipping goods through the southern Red Sea doubled for some companies on Thursday, after Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis attacked at least one tanker overnight, sources said. The Houthis said their forces had carried out missile and drone …

Florida Appeals Court Strikes Jury’s $335,000 Award in Universal Plumbing Claim

One of Florida’s largest property insurers won a major victory Wednesday from an appeals court, which found that a jury’s $335,000 award in a claims dispute over plumbing damages was far out of line with the evidence. “The verdict was …

Eight Sentenced in $1.2M Travel Insurance Fraud Scheme

Eight people have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a $1.2 million travel insurance fraud kickback scheme, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana announced. According to court documents, Jennifer Fleener devised a scheme in 2016 to …

Tech Update: Gallagher Enhances Digital Insurance Platform for Aviation Clients

Insurance broker Gallagher has relaunched its aviation insurance web portal — Jacinth — which provides clients with an interconnected insurance management system. The new enhanced digital platform is designed to help clients drive efficiency and offers analytical insights on their …