Patricia Wells

A petrochemical plant in Louisiana has paused its operations, a move that comes amid concerns about pollution and health risks for the local community. The Denka facility, which produces synthetic rubber, announced the suspension on Tuesday, citing high costs associated with reducing toxic emissions. This decision follows significant financial losses, with the company reporting a … Read more

Severe storms swept through parts of Wisconsin, Illinois, northern Indiana, and Michigan late Thursday night, bringing heavy thunder, lightning, and strong winds. The storms caused significant damage, knocking down trees and leaving thousands without power. The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings and watches for the affected areas. Reports confirmed that two tornadoes touched down … Read more

Federal safety regulators are asking Tesla to clarify how its driverless taxis will operate safely in Austin, Texas, next month. This launch is part of a broader push for a nationwide "robotaxi" service, which is important for maintaining investor confidence and the company’s stock price. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants to know … Read more

David Richardson, the new head of FEMA, announced a significant change in disaster response funding on Thursday. Starting soon, states will have to cover half the costs of responding to natural disasters, up from the current 25%. This shift comes as Richardson, who took over the agency just a week ago, aims to reform FEMA’s … Read more

At the recent Target Markets Mid-Year Conference in Dallas, managing general agents (MGAs) expressed their frustration with outdated systems that slow down their operations. Many voiced concerns about how every small change requires a support ticket, leading to delays that hinder their ability to compete effectively in a fast-paced market. The conference highlighted a common … Read more

Missouri’s attorney general has taken legal action against a natural gas company following a tragic explosion that resulted in the death of a young boy. The lawsuit, filed by Attorney General Andrew Bailey, claims that Liberty Utilities violated state safety laws, which are meant to protect residents during construction work. The explosion occurred on April … Read more

German insurtech company wefox has announced the sale of its Italian operations to J.C. Flowers & Co., a private equity firm based in the U.S. This move includes wefox MGA S.r.l. and wefox Services Italy S.r.l. The financial details of the deal have not been made public. Founded in 2015, wefox has faced financial challenges … Read more

Zurich North America is making significant changes in its leadership team. Heather Fox has been promoted to lead national accounts, and Peter Caminiti will take on the role of chief underwriting officer. Both changes will take effect on May 15. Heather Fox was previously the chief underwriting officer for U.S. national accounts. In her new … Read more

Written premiums for workers’ compensation insurance in California have stabilized between 2022 and 2024 after experiencing significant fluctuations during the pandemic. However, a new report reveals that the combined ratio, a key measure of insurance profitability, has reached its highest level in 14 years. The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) published its … Read more

More than 200 firefighters worked tirelessly to control a large fire that erupted at a warehouse in west Baltimore. The blaze disrupted Amtrak service and led to the evacuation of dozens of nearby residents. The fire broke out at a multistory mattress warehouse located at the intersection of Edmondson Avenue and Bentalou Street around 7 … Read more