Patricia Wells

Louisiana has become the latest state to officially call natural gas a form of green energy, even though it is a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change. Governor Jeff Landry, a strong supporter of the state’s petrochemical industry, signed a new law this week that requires state agencies and utility regulators to prioritize natural … Read more

A new report from a Paris-based watchdog shows that while some countries have made progress in regulating cryptocurrencies since last year, many still aren’t doing enough to curb the risks involved. As of April 2025, only 40 out of 138 countries evaluated meet most of the standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) … Read more

Erie Insurance has restored online access for customers, including bill payment services, after a network outage that began on June 7. The company took its systems offline to contain a security threat. So far, Erie says there is no sign of ransomware or ongoing malicious activity. They have not confirmed any data breach but are … Read more

A region in northern West Virginia is facing more flooding troubles just days after heavy rains caused flash floods. On Thursday night, downpours caused creeks to overflow again around Wheeling, an hour southwest of Pittsburgh. The National Weather Service warned that up to two inches of rain fell and more was still possible later that … Read more

A bright streak of light lit up the midday sky over parts of the Southeast U.S. on Thursday, capturing the attention of many across the region. Around 12:30 p.m., people in Georgia and South Carolina saw a fireball shooting down from the sky, creating quite a spectacle. The National Weather Service in Peachtree City, Georgia, … Read more

A Danville city employee, Claude Averett, is getting another chance to claim workers’ compensation after a deputy commissioner initially denied his benefits. The rejection came because Averett did not follow the city’s driver safety rules during a work-related accident. Averett doesn’t deny that he broke the rules. On the day of the crash, he didn’t … Read more

Starting this Saturday, passengers flying in China will no longer be allowed to bring power banks on board unless they carry a specific Chinese safety mark. The country’s aviation authority has ordered a ban on power banks that lack the “3C” certification, which shows they meet China’s safety rules. The ban also includes power banks … Read more

Oregon lawmakers have decided to repeal the state’s wildfire hazard map, a move that changes how fire risk is managed for homeowners in certain high-risk areas. The map, which had placed stricter rules on building and vegetation near homes, especially in wildland-urban interface zones, will no longer be the basis for statewide regulations. The repeal … Read more

MS Amlin and Allianz Commercial have both announced key appointments that highlight their focus on growth and expertise within the insurance sector. MS Amlin, part of the global MS&AD insurance group, has brought on Gisela Nilsson as their new senior underwriter for political violence. Nilsson joins from Talbot Underwriting, where she spent years leading a … Read more

In 2024, U.S. insurers paid out about $1 billion in claims for damage caused by lightning, marking a noticeable drop from the previous year. According to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), the total payout was $1.04 billion, down 16.5% from the $1.24 billion paid in 2023. Lightning-related claims also fell sharply in number. There were … Read more