Patricia Wells

Camp owners across Texas are sounding the alarm over new safety rules that could force many of them to shut down by next summer. The calls came during a meeting Friday where the Texas Department of State Health Services unveiled a drastic change in camp licensing fees and safety regulations. The changes come after two … Read more

Wisconsin’s Insurance Commissioner, Nathan Houdek, has ordered a contractor to pay $6,000 in fines after discovering he was acting as a public adjuster without following state rules. The contractor combined home repair work with “claim assistance” by using assignments of benefits—a practice that broke Wisconsin law. Under state law, public adjusters cannot have any financial … Read more

Last month, record-breaking heat overwhelmed the eastern United States, triggering emergency power situations across the region. This intense heat was caused by a weather pattern known as a heat dome—a large area of high pressure that traps warm air beneath it, creating scorching temperatures. The same phenomenon has already hit parts of Europe and China … Read more

Global financial watchdogs are stepping up efforts to keep a close eye on the risks linked to artificial intelligence as banks and financial firms increasingly embrace AI technologies. While many in the banking world see AI as a way to boost productivity, regulators are worried about potential threats to financial stability. The Financial Stability Board … Read more

Even when snow blankets South Dakota’s frozen ground and most farmers have wrapped up their season, Cedar Creek Gardens keeps growing. Nestled about 12 miles south of Interstate 90, near Murdo, this farm uses special hoop-shaped tunnels to keep vegetables thriving far beyond typical harvest times. These farm tunnels are tall, plastic-covered structures that trap … Read more

A former library director in northeastern Wyoming’s Campbell County will receive $700,000 after settling a lawsuit over her firing tied to a heated debate about books with sexual and LGBTQ+ themes. Terri Lesley was let go in 2023 amid complaints from some community members who found certain books inappropriate for young readers. The books in … Read more

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a new investigation into nearly 2.9 million Tesla vehicles that use the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. This comes after reports of multiple safety issues, including cars running red lights and driving the wrong way during lane changes. So far, there have been over 50 … Read more

Insurtech company Bold Penguin has acquired SquareRisk, a digital marketplace that uses artificial intelligence to connect wholesale insurance buyers and sellers. This move gives Bold Penguin users access to a wider range of commercial insurance options, including specialty and excess and surplus (E&S) markets. Bold Penguin, which is a subsidiary of American Family Insurance and … Read more

Jose Uribe, a former insurance agent from New Jersey, avoided prison time for his part in a bribery scheme that also involved former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, the senator’s wife, and two businessmen. Instead, a federal judge in New York sentenced Uribe to six months of home confinement and three years of probation. U.S. District … Read more

A new report from Moody’s Ratings highlights rising concerns about the risks linked to weak controls around artificial intelligence (AI) use at work. The study, based on a survey of nearly 2,000 global organizations rated by Moody’s, shows that many companies lack clear rules to manage how employees use AI tools like chatbots. This gap … Read more