Patricia Wells

A man in Lavaca County, Texas, has pleaded guilty to setting several fires involving hay bales and vehicles. Kody Derner admitted to starting six hay bale fires that took place in 2024, along with a felony charge for burning a vehicle. Derner was arrested in April 2025 by the Hallettsville Police Department after an investigation … Read more

Among rows of colorful kayaks, Khrystal Crosno recently helped an Ann Arbor family start their peaceful journey down the AuTrain River. Along the way, the Earls expected to see turtles, herons, river otters, and maybe even a black bear. Crosno was confident they would enjoy the trip but worried about a looming threat—the crumbling AuTrain … Read more

Robb Rynd and his brother have always loved farming. They started working together on over 200 acres growing corn, soybeans, wheat, and sorghum. Last year was good, and Robb enjoyed walking the fields with his kids to see how the corn was growing. But this year has been much tougher. For months, Robb has watched … Read more

Alive Risk, a specialist insurer focused on sports, leisure, and entertainment, has welcomed Scott Carroll as their new underwriting director for entertainment programs. Carroll will report directly to Patrick Gavin, the president and CEO of Alive Risk. With over 40 years in the insurance business, Carroll brings a wealth of knowledge, especially in entertainment-related risks. … Read more

Tesla has been hit with a $243 million verdict following a deadly crash involving one of its Autopilot-equipped vehicles in 2019. The crash occurred in Florida, when a Tesla Model S collided with a parked Chevrolet Tahoe, fatally injuring Naibel Benavides Leon and seriously wounding her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo. Before the trial, Tesla turned down … Read more

The Risk and Insurance Education Alliance is offering a special promotion for new members starting now. Anyone who signs up for a new Alliance PROfile account will get three self-paced online continuing education courses for free. This offer is designed to give professionals a chance to see how the Alliance’s training can improve their skills … Read more

A fire broke out at Smitty’s Supply, an automotive parts plant just north of Roseland, Louisiana, starting with an explosion on Friday. The blast sent flames and thick black smoke into the sky, causing a serious response from emergency crews. By Sunday, the fire was about 90% under control, but the area within a one-mile … Read more

A new bill aimed at making Texas youth camps safer and reducing the influence of camp owners on state policies is moving forward in the Legislature. The bill, House Bill 265, was introduced by state Rep. Lacey Hull after recent changes were made to emergency preparedness rules following a tragic flood that killed 27 campers … Read more

California, New Mexico, and Washington could lose a total of $46 million a year in federal trucking safety funding after the U.S. Department of Transportation accused them of ignoring English language rules for commercial truck drivers. Secretary Sean Duffy demanded these states comply within 30 days with a federal rule that requires truckers to speak, … Read more

In the early hours of July 4, a sudden and fierce flash flood swept through Central Texas’s Hill Country, catching many off guard and leading to a tragic loss of life. The flood, which struck mainly Kerr County, claimed at least 136 lives, including over two dozen children and counselors at Camp Mystic, a long-standing … Read more