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

Florida Lawmakers Send COVID-19 Liability Protection Bill to Governor

Florida businesses, governments and healthcare providers will be protected from coronavirus lawsuits if they made a good effort to follow guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 under a bill the House sent to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday. …

Study: Nearly 70% of ERCOT Customers Lost Power During Texas Winter Storm

Last month’s disastrous and deadly winter storm impacted most Texans served by the state’s main power grid, with almost 70% of those people losing power in subfreezing temperatures and almost half experiencing a water outage, according to a new report …

OSHA Sues Texas Hotel Operator for Whistleblower Law, Other Violations

Federal officials have sued the operator of a hotel in Waller, Texas, after it fired an employee who sought medical help after being exposed to carbon monoxide and reported the incident. According to U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and …

Bill to Legalize Recreational Pot Dies in North Dakota Senate

North Dakota’s Republican-led Senate has killed legislation to legalize recreational marijuana in the state. Only 10 of the chamber’s 47 senators voted for the measure. The bill passed the GOP-led House last month with a 56-38 vote for approval. Backers …

Judge: Austin Can Require Masks Despite Lifting of Texas’ Statewide Mandate

A Texas judge is allowing the City of Austin to continue to require face coverings in local businesses weeks after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott ended a statewide mask mandate and other COVID-19 safety measures. The ruling by state District Judge …

Private Equity Firm Odyssey Partners With Management to Acquire SIAA

Private equity firm Odyssey Investment Partners has joined with management of SIAA (Strategic Insurance Agency Alliance), the nation’s largest alliance of independent insurance agencies, to acquire the company. New Hampshire-headquartered SIAA says its model and operations will remain unchanged under …

Allstate’s Sale of New York Unit to Wilton Re to Complete Exit from Life, Annuity Business

The Allstate Corp. said it has agreed to sell its New York life insurance and annuity operation to Wilton Re for $220 million. The selling of Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York (ALNY), along with the previously announced agreement …

Underground Electrical Blast Rocks New Jersey’s Asbury Park

Utility crews restored service after an underground electrical fire rocked the New Jersey shore city made famous by Bruce Springsteen’s music. Thursday’s blast caused two manhole covers to come out of the ground and forced the evacuation of some businesses …

New Jersey Governor Nominates Thompson as Insurance Fraud Prosecutor

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has announced his nomination of Tracy Thompson as insurance fraud prosecutor. Thompson has led the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor in an acting capacity since March 2018. Her nomination, which will be formally submitted …

Tornado Touches Down in Vermont, Injuring at Least Two

A tornado with an estimated wind speed of 110 mph touched down in Vermont on Friday afternoon, injuring at least two people. A statement from the National Weather Service in Burlington, Vermont, says the tornado threw a barrel into a …