Patricia Wells

Employee benefits firm Freimark & Associates has joined forces with Leavitt Heartland Insurance, a Leavitt Group affiliate with several offices across South Dakota. This new partnership broadens the insurance choices available to customers of both companies. Clients who work with Freimark & Associates will now have access to home, auto, and business insurance options alongside … Read more

Minnesota is still reeling from a church shooting in Minneapolis that killed two children and injured 21 others. After the tragic event at Annunciation Catholic School on August 27, Governor Tim Walz promised to call a special session of the Legislature to tackle gun violence and improve school safety. But a month later, talks remain … Read more

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a new executive order aimed at easing the state’s growing challenges with natural disasters, home insurance affordability, and utility stability. The order pushes various state agencies to work together on finding better ways to handle the costs and recovery efforts from wildfires and other catastrophes. It also seeks to … Read more

In early 2025, a large steel warehouse in the Southwest was completely destroyed by a fire that started outside the building. Despite being well maintained and equipped with an automatic sprinkler system, the 30,000-square-foot warehouse and everything inside it were lost. The blaze began in dry brush near the building and was quickly fueled by … Read more

NASA has shared its first radar images from a new Earth-mapping satellite, giving a clear look at the Maine coast and farmland in North Dakota. These detailed pictures come from a spacecraft that launched into orbit from India just two months ago. The satellite, called NISAR, is a joint project between NASA and India’s space … Read more

In the world of insurance, there’s a rule that can make it tough for people with certain felony convictions to work in the industry. Known as the 1033 rule, it comes from a federal law that says anyone convicted of a felony involving dishonesty or a breach of trust must get special permission—a “1033 waiver”—to … Read more

Two Democratic senators are raising concerns about how the Trump administration is handling the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Senators Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts and Andy Kim from New Jersey sent a letter to David Richardson, FEMA’s Acting Administrator, pointing out staff cuts and shifting priorities that they say could put the program at risk. … Read more

Two major figures in the insurance world are making moves this fall, with leadership changes at Covéa Insurance UK and Ryan Re Underwriting Managers. Xavier Laurent has been named the new CEO of Covéa Insurance in the UK, taking over from Georges De Macedo. De Macedo, who’s been leading the company since June 2023, is … Read more

The cannabis industry faces some unique insurance challenges, especially when it comes to theft and fire risks. Beth Ossino, claims manager at Golden Bear Insurance Company, shared some eye-opening stories about big losses suffered by cannabis businesses during the recent Insuring Cannabis Summit. Ossino described incidents where thieves broke into businesses and made off with … Read more

Heavy rain caused severe flooding in parts of Arizona, leading to the deaths of four people and widespread damage. The hardest-hit area was Globe, a small mining town about 88 miles east of Phoenix. In just one day, the town received around 2.5 inches of rain, which quickly turned streets into rivers and forced residents … Read more