Monthly Archives: <span>February 2021</span>

South Carolina County Rebuilds Network After Denying Hacker Ransom Demand

A South Carolina county continues to rebuild its computer network after what it called a sophisticated hacking attempt. Hackers sent an email Jan. 22 that allowed them to take over Georgetown County’s computers. They demanded a ransom to return the …

Oklahoma Injection Wells Closed or Reduced After 4.2 Magnitude Quake

The injection of wastewater into underground wells by oil and natural gas producers has been stopped or reduced in the area where a magnitude 4.2 earthquake struck in northern Oklahoma early on Feb. 19. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has directed …

Indiana Governor Signs COVID-19 Liability Shield Legislation

Indiana businesses and others now have broad protections from lawsuits by people blaming them for contracting COVID-19 under a new state law. Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb on Feb. 18 signed the bill that he and GOP lawmakers had made a …

Sioux Falls Settles Negligence Lawsuit Filed After Child’s Drowning

The City of Sioux Falls has agreed to pay $500,000 to the mother of the 5-year-old girl who drowned in the river at Falls Park three years ago. Courtney Jayne claimed the city was negligent in the death of Maggie …

Former Iowa Insurance Agent Charged with Fraud, Money Laundering

A former Iowa insurance agent has been charged money laundering and fraud, among other charges, the Iowa Insurance Division reported. Michael J. Heiberger, age 52, of Epworth, has been charged with one count of money laundering (C Felony), six counts …

Southeast Missouri Barn Fire Kills 10 Horses at Riding Academy

The Missouri State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of a barn fire that killed 10 horses in southeast Missouri. The fire broke out at night on Feb. 18 at Fox Run Riding Academy in Cape Girardeau. The Southeast Missourian …

Federal Flood Insurance Premiums Far From Keeping Up With Expected Losses

If the nearly 4.3 million residential homes (1-4 units) across the country with substantial flood risk were to be insured through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the NFIP rates would need to increase 4.5 times to cover the risk …

Parts Fall from Colorado Sky in Boeing 777 Scare

David Delucia was settling back into his airplane seat and starting to relax on his way to a long-awaited vacation when a huge explosion and flash of light interrupted an in-flight announcement and put him in survival mode. The Boeing …

Drought Could Increase Fire Threat in Wyoming, Officials Say

Meteorologists in Wyoming have warned that low levels of precipitation across the state could increase the threat of wildfires over the summer. Tim Troutman, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Riverton, told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle on …

Cyberattack Strikes Pandemic-Besigned Navajo Nation Hospital

A pandemic-besieged hospital on the edge of the Navajo Nation says it has been the focus of a cyberattack. The nonprofit operator of Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital in Gallup issued a brief statement acknowledging “unauthorized activity” on its computer network. …