Monthly Archives: <span>May 2013</span>

No New Federal Funds Needed for Oklahoma Tornado Recovery

Top U.S. lawmakers and officials said that the federal government has plenty of money on hand to pay for recovery efforts in the wake of the devastating tornado that struck Oklahoma. The government has more than $11 billion in its …

Louisiana’s Sen. Landrieu Seeks to Delay Flood Insurance Increases

Sen. Mary Landrieu filed legislation this week to delay flood insurance increases for many residents and businesses in southern Louisiana that officials fear could begin skyrocketing at the end of the year. The National Flood Insurance Program reauthorization was approved …

Oklahoma City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado

Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett says 12,000 to 13,000 homes were affected by the tornado that tore through a city suburb. At least 24 people died when the tornado laid waste to Moore on May 20. The Oklahoma Insurance Department …

Idaho State University To Pay $400K For Medical Records Breach

Idaho State University is paying a $400,000 to the federal government to settle allegations it improperly exposed confidential medical records. In August 2011, ISU told the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services of a breach of its unsecured electronic …

1-3 Tropical Cyclones Expected For Central Pacific

It’s looking like it’ll be a below-normal hurricane season for the central Pacific. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued its 2013 central Pacific hurricane outlook Wednesday at a news conference in Honolulu. Hurricane season starts June 1 and runs …

Guest Workers in Mississippi Sue Company, Claim Exploitation

Dozens of Indian guest workers are suing a U.S.-based marine and fabrication company, saying it financially exploited them and forced them to live in squalid conditions after bringing them to work at Gulf Coast shipyards after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. …

Judge Recuses Herself from West Virginia University Degree Lawsuit

U.S. District Judge Irene Keeley has disqualified herself from hearing a lawsuit filed over a 6-year-old degree scandal at West Virginia University, citing a federal statute that requires judges to step aside if their impartiality could be questioned. The order …

California Offers Glimpse Into Health Insurance Prices Under Obamacare

California unveiled prices on Thursday that consumers will pay for a selection of health plans offered through the state under the Affordable Care Act, providing a glimpse into how health care reform may look as it is rolled out across …

Bridge Collapse in Washington Cripples Highway Near Seattle

A section of a major interstate highway bridge in Washington state collapsed yesterday, sending two vehicles into the rushing waters of the Skagit River north of Seattle. Three people were rescued and no one is believed to have died, authorities …

76 Tornadoes in May Caused $2B-$5B in Insured Losses: Eqecat

Tornadoes that struck the United States from May 18 to May 20 caused anywhere from $2 billion to $5 billion in insured losses, disaster modeling company Eqecat said. The firm said most of the losses were attributed to the tornado …