Midwest News

EPA Assessment Reveals Persistent Nutrient Pollution in US Rivers and Streams

The nation’s rivers and streams remain stubbornly polluted with nutrients that contaminate drinking water and fuel a gigantic dead zone for aquatic life in the Gulf of Mexico, according to a recently released Environmental Protection Agency assessment. It’s a difficult …

Cold Weather Causes More Than 60 Oil Spills in North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Bitter cold weather is causing a rash of spills in the oil fields of North Dakota as well as a slowdown in production, regulators say. North Dakota has seen multiple days of frigid weather with windchills …

People Moves: Atain Names Dassow VP, Head of Primary Liability; WSIA Names New Secretary and Director Following Maner’s Retirement

Atain Names Dassow VP, Head of Primary Liability Atain Insurance Companies, headquartered in Farmington Hills, Mich., hired Tom Dassow as vice president and head of primary liability, leading Atain’s newly formed general liability brokerage unit. Most recently, Dassow led CM …

Iowa Lawsuit Accuses TikTok of Misrepresenting Content

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa on Wednesday became the latest state to sue TikTok over claims that the social media company deceives consumers over the amount of “inappropriate content” that children can access via the platform. TikTok claims an …

Owner of Michigan Insurance Agency Charged With Embezzlement

The owner of a Michigan insurance agency has been charged with embezzling money from employees by misappropriating payroll deductions, announced Attorney General Dana Nessel. Nancy Caviston, 76, of Superior Charter Township, was arraigned Thursday on charges of embezzlement and wage …

Kansas Court System Seeks $2.6M to Recover from Cyberattack

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas court system needs at least $2.6 million in additional funds to recover from an October cyberattack that prevented the electronic filing of documents and blocked online access to records for weeks, the state’s top …

Illinois Manufacturer Faces in $298K Penalties for Safety Machine Violations

An Illinois manufacturer faces $298,000 in penalties after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found the company failed to guard industrial equipment, develop a lockout/tagout program and train workers on machine safety procedures, …

People Moves: VIAA Promotes Kaatman to Director of Growth; Krieger Joins Alliant in Iowa

Valley Insurance Agency Alliance Promotes Kaatman to Director of Growth Valley Insurance Agency Alliance (VIAA), headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., promoted Bill Kaatman to director of growth. Kaatman brings 17 years of experience in the insurance industry, previously serving as …

Iowa Man Sentenced for Disaster-Related Insurance Fraud

An Iowa man was sentence last week to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty to crimes of insurance fraud. Timothy Daryle Sletten, age 32, of Marshalltown, was sentenced on January 11, 2024. The charges against Sletten stem from an …

Kansas Insurance Department Recovers $16M in 2023

Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt announced the Kansas Insurance Department recovered more than $16 million for Kansans in 2023, the largest single-year recovery in Department history. This new record goes beyond the previous year’s recovery total of $7.6 million. The …

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