Patricia Wells

Hawaii lawmakers have recently passed a controversial bill aimed at improving Hawaiian Electric Co.’s credit rating. This decision comes despite strong pushback from key committee chairs in both the House and Senate. The bill introduces a new fee for HECO customers, which is intended to fund necessary investments for wildfire prevention. The main point of … Read more

The Trump administration has taken legal action against Michigan and Hawaii, aiming to prevent these states from suing oil companies for damages related to climate change. This move comes shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed a Republican effort to block similar lawsuits from several Democratic-led states. The federal government argues that these lawsuits interfere … Read more

Bennett Enterprises Inc., which operates Ralphie’s Sports Eatery in Kenton, Ohio, has agreed to pay $125,000 to settle a lawsuit involving race and disability discrimination. This lawsuit was filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The case centers around a biracial woman who worked as a server at Ralphie’s. She reported a hostile … Read more

Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives have taken a significant step toward repealing a federal waiver that allows California to ban gasoline-powered cars by 2035. This policy has faced criticism from various groups, including automakers and fuel producers, as well as from former President Donald Trump. On Thursday, the House voted 246-164 in favor … Read more

SiriusPoint and Howden have made significant new appointments as part of their growth strategies. Eleanor Gibson has been named the international chief underwriting officer at SiriusPoint, while April McLaughlin will lead Howden Re in Miami. Eleanor Gibson will join SiriusPoint on May 6, 2025. Based in London, she will report to Rob Gibbs, the president … Read more

Independent insurance agents often find themselves spending an excessive amount of time drafting emails. A recent study revealed that small business employees, on average, dedicate over 10 hours a week to writing emails. This time-consuming task can hinder productivity, especially when agents need to reach out to clients for policy updates or marketing campaigns. To … Read more

AIG has reported a significant drop in its underwriting income for the first quarter of 2025, falling by 59% compared to the same period last year, totaling $243 million. This decline comes amid a challenging environment marked by rising catastrophe-related costs. The General Insurance segment, which includes North America commercial, International commercial, and global personal … Read more

AM Best has changed its outlook for Missouri Valley Mutual Insurance Company (MVMIC) from stable to negative. This change also comes with an affirmation of its Financial Strength Rating at B+ (Good) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb-” (Good). MVMIC is based in Burke, South Dakota. The ratings from AM Best reflect MVMIC’s … Read more

Los Angeles County has made a significant decision this week by approving a $4 billion settlement to address nearly 7,000 claims of sexual abuse that occurred in juvenile facilities since 1959. This agreement, reached on April 4, marks one of the largest payouts for sexual abuse claims in U.S. history, surpassing a previous $2.6 billion … Read more

The Oklahoma Insurance Department is set to launch the second pilot of the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Program, which offers residents up to $10,000 to improve their homes to meet the IBHS Fortified standard. This initiative aims to help homeowners make their properties more resilient against severe weather. Eligible residents in nine specific zip codes can … Read more