Monthly Archives: <span>December 2019</span>

Blast at Beechcraft Plant in Kansas Injures More Than a Dozen People

More than a dozen people were injured on Dec. 27 when a nitrogen line ruptured at the Beechcraft aircraft manufacturing facility in Wichita, Kansas, causing part of the building to collapse, authorities said. Daniel Wegner, deputy fire chief for Sedgwick …

Document: Iowa School District Settled Discrimination Suit for More Than $170K

Newly released documents show that Mason City Schools in Iowa settled a gender discrimination lawsuit filed by a former official for more $170,000. The district issued its former human resources director Jodie Anderson $31,500 in wage differential payment and $73,500 …

Venice Floods to Cost St. Mark’s Cathedral at Least $5.5 Million in Damage

“Every stone is a treasure,” says the technical director of St. Mark’s Basilica’s vestry board, indicating the prized gold-leaf mosaics overhead, the inlaid stone pavement and the marble clad walls of the 923-year-old masterpiece. And many are vulnerable to the …

Eight Escape California Warehouse Fire Similar to Ghost Ship Fire

Oakland authorities have confirmed a fire chased eight people out of an evacuated and condemned building injuring one person before fire crews could extinguish the blaze. Assistant Fire Marshal Emmanuel Watson compared the event to the 2016 fire that trapped …

Judge Overturns $15M Award to Ex-LA Times Columnist

A judge has overturned a jury’s award of nearly $15.5 million to a former sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times who said he was forced out of his job because of age and health discrimination. Superior Court Judge William …

Allied Names Locher to Lead Winery Insurance Program in Western U.S.

Allied Public Risk, LLC, through its Allied Winery Risk division, has added Gregory Locher to the winery space in the Western U.S. as lead executive of the firm’s property and liability insurance program. The Allied Winery Risk program was designed …

Typhoon Phanfone Kills at Least 41 in Philippines, Destroys Homes, Crops

Typhoon Phanfone killed at least 41 people when it slammed into the central Philippines on Christmas Eve, with dozens still injured or missing, according to the agency which oversees disaster response. The 21st cyclone to hit the Southeast Asian nation …

Thousands of Tourists Evacuated as Wildfires Sweep Through Southeast Australia

Thousands of holiday-makers have evacuated a popular tourist spot in southeast Australia as a heatwave and strong winds fuel wildfires sweeping through the region. But with temperatures hitting 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) Monday and blazes closing sections of …

The Hilb Group Acquires Rhode Island’s Wickford Insurance Agency

The Hilb Group LLC (THG) has acquired Rhode Island-based Wickford Insurance Agency Inc. (WIA). The transaction became effective December 1, 2019. WIA is a full-service property and casualty insurance agency for businesses and individuals throughout Rhode Island. WIA’s associates will …

18 Sickened After Private Function at Popular New Hampshire Restaurant

Eighteen people were sickened with a gastrointestinal illness after attending a private function last month at a restaurant co-owned by a Democratic congressman that’s popular with presidential candidates, state health officials said. People who became ill with norovirus attended the …