Daily Archives: <span>December 4, 2017</span>

La Nina Adds to Wildfire Threat in South Central, Plains States

Conditions are ripe for winter wildfires from the mid-South through the Great Plains thanks to a combination of weather factors, including the climate phenomenon known as La Nina, that have left a lot of dry growth. In addition to the …

Missouri a ‘High-Risk’ State for Deer/Vehicle Accidents

Insurance companies have classified Missouri as one of three states deemed “high-risk” for deer collisions. The other two states considered “high-risk” are Arkansas and Kansas according to State Farm, which insures between 20 and 25 percent of vehicles in Missouri, …

Study: North Texas Quakes Spurred on Faults Dormant for 300M Years

Earthquakes that have swarmed North Texas in recent years occurred on faults awakened by human activity after they had been dormant since dinosaurs roamed the area, according to a new university study. There have been frequent earthquakes in recent years …

UK Cyber Security Agency Issues Warning About Kaspersky Lab Antivirus Software

Britain’s cyber security agency has told government departments not to use antivirus software from Moscow-based firm Kaspersky Lab amid concerns about Russian snooping. Ciaran Martin, head of the National Cyber Security Centre, said: “Russia is acting against the U.K.’s national …

Fire Kills 10 in China’s Tianjin Port City Where Deadly Explosions Occurred in 2015

Ten people died and five were injured in a fire early Friday [Dec. 1] in a northern Chinese port city where scores were killed in an explosion two years ago. The fire department in Tianjin said the blaze broke out …

Two 23-Year-Old Students Win Blockchain Insurance Contest in Switzerland

A pair of 23-year old students, Hugo Moreau and Paul Nicolet, came out on top in the final round of an inaugural blockchain competition held in Switzerland. The two Swiss masters students at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) successfully …

Idaho Suit Accuses Home Depot of Discriminating Against Mom with Newborn

A former Home Depot assistant supervisor in southwestern Idaho has filed a lawsuit against the company alleging sex and pregnancy discrimination. The Idaho Statesman reported the lawsuit alleges the company violated federal law by refusing to allow the woman breaks …

California Seeking $4.4B in Federal Aid for Wildfires

California’s 53 U.S. House members are requesting $4.4 billion in federal aid to help the state recover from its deadliest wildfires ever. That’s down sharply from the $7.4 billion originally sought by Gov. Jerry Brown and California Democrats last month. …

UK Auto Insurer Direct Line Offers Tesla Drivers 5% Discount if They Use ‘Auto-Pilot’

Britain’s largest motor insurer Direct Line is offering Tesla Inc drivers in Britain a 5-percent discount for switching on the car’s autopilot system, seeking to encourage use of a system it hopes will cut down on accidents. The move – …

Founders Professional Opens New California Office, Taps DeCew and Steen

Founders Professional has hired Matt DeCew and Jeff Steen and is launching a new San Diego, Calif. office. This is the firm’s fifth location. DeCew and Steen will work with retail insurance agencies throughout the West in securing coverage for …