Latest California Headlines
All the headlines from our California Topic Page, ordered by recency.
FTC Sues to Block Kroger’s $24.6 Billion Albertsons Deal
Feb 27 2024 // The US Federal Trade Commission, eight states and Washington DC sued to block Kroger Co.’s $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons Cos. Monday, arguing the tie-up would lead to lower wages for workers and higher...
GM’s Cruise Prepares to Resume Robotaxi Testing After Halt
Feb 26 2024 // General Motors Co.’s Cruise autonomous driving unit is nearing the resumption of robotaxi testing in the coming weeks, with Houston and Dallas emerging as potential locations, following the grounding of its fleet...
AM Best Upgrades Credit Ratings of Aspire General in California
Feb 26 2024 // AM Best upgraded the Financial Strength Rating to B++ (Good) from B+ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating to “bbb” (Good) from “bbb-” (Good) of Aspire General Insurance Co. in Rancho...
ALKEME Acquires Ferrante Insurance Services in California
Feb 23 2024 // ALKEME acquired Ferrante Insurance Services in Concord, California. Ferrante Insurance Services specializes in providing commercial risk services to contractors throughout California including general liability,...
Report Shows Metal Tube Ruptured, Causing Fire at California Renewables Facility
Feb 23 2024 // The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board released an update on the agency’s investigation of a Nov. 19, 2023, fire at the Martinez Renewables facility in Martinez, California, finding that a metal tube...
California Puts Waymo Robotaxi Expansion Application on Hold Until June 19
Feb 22 2024 // A California regulator has put on hold until June 19 an application by Alphabet’s Waymo to expand its robotaxi services to parts of the Los Angeles area and San Francisco’s peninsula, amid rising safety...
Inszone Insurance Services Acquires Frank Vitale Insurance Agency
Feb 21 2024 // Inszone Insurance Services acquired Frank Vitale Insurance Agency in Soquel, California. The agency’s primary focus has been on insuring the construction industry, offering specialized coverage such as worker’s...
California Hillsides Are at Risk of Floods After Days of Downpours
Feb 20 2024 // The latest in a series of robust storms is drenching California again with rain and snow, prompting officials to warn residents to stay on high alert for floods as weakened terrain gets further tested. Some hillside...
Inszone Acquires Entertainment Specialist Truman Van Dyke in California
Feb 20 2024 // Inszone Insurance Services acquired entertainment insurance agency Truman Van Dyke Co. Truman Van Dyke was founded by Truman Van Dyke Sr. and Truman Van Dyke Jr. Van Dyke Sr. transitioned from a silent film actor to an...
Dark Skies, Bad Weather Could Have Led to Fatal California Helicopter Crash That Killed 6
Feb 20 2024 // Two aviation experts who reviewed newly released photos and video of last week’s helicopter crash that killed a prominent Nigerian banker and five others said the flight likely should have been canceled because of...
New Storms Hit California as Wet Winter Brings More Flooding, Winds and Heavy Snowfall
Feb 19 2024 // AccuWeather meteorologists on Sunday forecasted the “relentless wet pattern” will continue for residents along the West Coast at least the middle of the week, as stormy conditions will moved onshore withrounds...
Hub Launches High Net Worth Excess Wildfire Program in California
Feb 19 2024 // HUB International launched a new program to address the need for enhanced wildfire coverage of high value homes that will be offered exclusively by HUB Private Client to address the insurance and risk management needs of...
Officials Say California Family Arraigned for Auto Insurance Fraud Filed 40-Plus Claims
Feb 19 2024 // Shannon Ninio, 60, of North Hills was arraigned for insurance fraud after a California Department of Insurance investigation found she and her husband, Moshe Ninio, allegedly stole customers’ personal information and...
Symphony Risk in California Launches Captive Program for Cannabis Industry
Feb 16 2024 // Symphony Grow is launching a bespoke captive insurance program for large and sophisticated cannabis businesses called “Symphony Grow Captive.” The “Symphony Grow Captive” risk financing tool...
New York City Sues Social Media Platforms Over Teen Mental-Health Concern
Feb 16 2024 // New York City joined a growing chorus of states, cities and school districts suing social media companies over claims that their platforms are fueling a mental-health crisis among teens, alleging that Meta Platforms and...
Southern California Tops List of Wheel and Tire Claims for Second Straight Quarter
Feb 16 2024 // Los Angeles and Orange County are number one of the top 20 list for a second consecutive quarter for 2023 and stay at the top in theft claims handled by population. Wheelnet, a provider for wheel and tire replacement for...
Oracle Women Fought 7 Years for Equity, Only to Win an Extra Paycheck or Two
Feb 15 2024 // Oracle Corp. female employees who fought the company in court for almost seven years over gender-pay equity reached a $25 million settlement — a small price for the software giant that amounts to one or two paychecks for...
Disneyland’s Mickey Mouse And Cinderella Performers May Unionize
Feb 15 2024 // Workers who help bring Disneyland’s beloved characters to life — including Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Cinderella — are looking to unionize. Labor organizers announced the campaign, saying performers want...
Continued Growth for Surplus Lines in 2023 as Premiums Up 14.6%
Feb 14 2024 // The excess and surplus lines market continued to grow in 2023, with premium reaching nearly $73 billion according to data from 15 state surplus lines office release by the Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association...
California Lawmakers Call for Stricter Regulation of Autonomous Vehicles
Feb 14 2024 // California lawmakers and labor unions rallied to call for laws to not allow autonomous trucks without human drivers, amid rising safety concerns after accidents involving self-driving taxis from General Motors and...
