Patricia Wells

Authorities are investigating a former employee of DigitalMint, a company that helps businesses negotiate with hackers and handle cryptocurrency payments during ransomware attacks. The Chicago-based firm confirmed that the US Justice Department is looking into claims that this ex-employee made secret deals with cybercriminals to earn extra money from extortion payouts. DigitalMint’s president, Marc Jason … Read more

First Mid Insurance Group has taken a step to grow its business in Illinois by acquiring assets from AAdvantage Insurance. This purchase includes the former Waterman-Neely agency located in Chatham, Illinois. The move helps First Mid Insurance Group increase its reach around Springfield and boosts its commercial insurance services around the Metro East area and … Read more

Relation Insurance Services has taken over the assets of Advantage Insurance Group, a family-owned business in El Reno, Oklahoma. The acquisition became official on May 31, 2025, though the financial details were not shared. Advantage Insurance Group provides both personal and commercial insurance products. Despite the change in ownership, the company’s offices will still be … Read more

A wildfire that started Saturday afternoon in San Bernardino County, California, is now 25% contained after burning 485 acres. The fire, known as the Lake Fire, broke out north of Crestline and Lake Arrowhead. Thankfully, no one has been hurt, and no buildings have been damaged. Fire crews made steady progress throughout Sunday. Early evacuation … Read more

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a new law that changes the state’s environmental protection rules to help address its housing shortage and homelessness crisis. The move updates the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, a law from the 1970s that requires careful review of how new developments affect the environment. Newsom pushed for this … Read more

When natural disasters like hurricanes or wildfires hit, the damage is often obvious—damaged roofs or burned homes tell the story. But extreme heat waves cause damage that’s less visible and more spread out. Crops can fail, outdoor workers might have to stop, and data centers can overheat, cutting off online services. This kind of harm … Read more

A judge in New York has ruled that Meta Platforms and ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok, must face a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the mother of a 15-year-old boy who died while “subway surfing” on a moving train. The boy, Zackery Nazario, lost his life on February 20, 2023, after climbing onto the … Read more

Governor Greg Abbott is stepping up efforts in Texas to stop a dangerous invasive fly known as the New World screwworm. This fly is a serious threat to livestock and wildlife because it lays its larvae in the wounds of warm-blooded animals. The larvae, or maggots, then burrow into the flesh, causing harmful and sometimes … Read more

Two key Republican senators have reached an agreement on a new federal moratorium that limits state regulations on artificial intelligence (AI) to five years. This deal also lets states set rules on child online safety and protect artists’ voices and likenesses. The original proposal, led by Senator Ted Cruz, aimed to block states that regulate … Read more

Cyber insurer Cowbell has teamed up with Zurich North America to bring a new insurance offering to small- and medium-sized businesses across the United States. This partnership expands Cowbell’s lineup beyond cyber and technology errors and omissions coverage to include a package called Zurich Select Plus. The product combines four types of insurance: Directors & … Read more