Patricia Wells

A new bill in California aims to strengthen the financial capacity of the California FAIR Plan, which provides insurance coverage for high-risk properties. The bill, known as Assembly Bill 226, recently passed the Assembly with unanimous support, receiving a vote of 72-0. Authored by Assemblymembers Lisa Calderon from Whittier and David Alvarez from San Diego, … Read more

A farmer from Kentucky is facing serious consequences after admitting to cheating the federal crop insurance program out of nearly $1.5 million. Robert Thomas Hunt, who lives in Taylor County, pleaded guilty to the charges and is now awaiting his sentencing. Hunt’s scheme spanned from 2015 to 2021. During this time, he instructed grain haulers … Read more

Japan is facing a serious threat from a potential megaquake that could strike off its southern coast. According to a recent report from the government, this disaster could lead to nearly 300,000 deaths and the destruction of over 2 million buildings. The Cabinet Office released this alarming model, highlighting the risks associated with a major … Read more

Sentry Insurance has announced that Pete Anhalt will take charge of The General following Sentry’s acquisition of the brand from American Family Insurance, which is set to be finalized in September 2024. Anhalt, who is currently the president of Sentry’s Dairyland nonstandard auto insurance brand, will lead the transition as the two businesses move toward … Read more

Johnson & Johnson faced a significant setback this week as a court rejected the company’s attempt to settle thousands of lawsuits related to its talc-based baby powder. This decision sent J&J’s shares tumbling by 5.6%, marking the steepest drop since March 2020. The ruling means that J&J now has to deal with approximately 60,000 claims … Read more

JM Wilson, a company based in Portage, Michigan, recently announced several key promotions within its property and casualty (P&C) team. Natalie Staruch has been promoted to executive P&C underwriter. In her new role, she will handle both new and renewal commercial risks, collaborating with carrier underwriters and independent insurance agents in the southern region. Staruch … Read more

BlackRock Inc., the largest asset manager in the world, is expanding its presence in Texas. The firm recently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to create an exchange-traded fund (ETF) focused on Texas-based companies. This new ETF will be passively managed, meaning it will track the performance of its underlying index rather than actively … Read more

Heavy rains along the Texas-Mexico border have caused severe flooding, leading to ongoing rescue efforts and tragic loss of life. On Friday, the downpour that had trapped residents in their homes and stranded drivers began to ease, but the aftermath of the storms was still being felt across the region. Local officials reported that at … Read more

Are you a young insurance agent, 40 years old or younger? If so, there’s an exciting opportunity for you to share your thoughts about the insurance industry. The Young Insurance Agents Opinion Survey is now open for participation, and organizers are eager to hear from you. This is the final call for agents to take … Read more

Norfolk Southern is seeking financial help from two companies to cover part of a $600 million settlement related to a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. This incident, which occurred on February 3, 2023, released toxic chemicals into the environment and led to a significant evacuation of the area. The railroad company has filed a … Read more