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

Worker Shortage Hampers North Dakota Oil Production

Oil production is flat in North Dakota due to a workforce shortage as the industry recovers from the coronavirus pandemic. Companies say they are in need of workers to inject water, sand and chemicals down wells to crack open rock …

Alera Group Acquires Oklahoma’s Keller Insurance Agency

Alera Group, an independent, national insurance and wealth management firm based in Deerfield, Illinois, acquired Keller Insurance Agency, a firm specializing in commercial property/casualty insurance, with a particular focus in senior living facilities. Keller Insurance Agency is affiliated with Tulsa, …

W.R. Berkley Reports Strong Q2, Crediting Rate Adequacy, Improving Economy

W.R. Berkley Corp. reported net premium growth exceeding 27 percent and a combined ratio under 90 for the 2021 second quarter, positive results the commercial lines insurer and reinsurer attributed to rate adequacy and an improving economy. Consolidated net premiums …

Fire Crews Making Progress on Massive Oregon Blaze

The nation’s largest wildfire is still raging through southern Oregon but crews were scaling back some night operations as hard work and weaker winds helped reduce the spread of flames even as wildfires continued to threaten homes in neighboring California. …

Woman Dead, 3 Missing Following Flooding in Colorado Burn Area

A woman was found dead and three other people were missing after rain triggered flooding and mudslides in an area of northern Colorado burned by a large wildfire last year, authorities said Wednesday. The woman’s body was found near the …

Officials: Lightning Likely Caused 2020 California Forest Fire

A lightning strike likely ignited a 2020 wildfire in California’s Sierra National Forest, but the U.S. Forest Service said Friday it could not determine an official cause of the fire. September’s Creek Fire burned 600 square miles and spread so …

Bomb Squad Caused Damaging California Fireworks Explosion, Officials Say

Los Angeles bomb technicians grossly miscalculated the weight of homemade fireworks last month when they detonated them in a containment chamber, likely causing a catastrophic explosion that injured 17 people and rocked a neighborhood, the police chief said Monday. Chief …

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Bolsters International Programs’ Team with 2 Promotions

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions has promoted William Porter as head International Programs Americas, and Reto Collenberg as head International Programs APAC and EMEA, both effective Aug.1. Together they will oversee Swiss Re Corporate Solutions’ International Programs business and market strategy …

People Moves: FM Global Expands Executive Team; Pie Insurance Adds 3 Executives

Rhode Island-based commercial property insurer FM Global is making executive management team changes, moving seasoned leaders within the company into newly created roles. Bret N. Ahnell, executive vice president and a 34-year veteran of the company, has been named chief …

Relation Insurance Services Acquires Assets of SIG Insurance Agencies

Relation Insurance Services Inc. acquired the assets of The SIG Insurance Agencies. The partnership with SIG strengthens Relation’s existing capabilities and further expands the platform’s geographic presence in the Northeast. Headquartered in Connecticut with additional operations in New York, New …