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Another State, Tennessee, Moves to Authorize Family Leave Insurance for Employers

A Tennessee lawmaker wants insurance carriers to offer paid family leave insurance as a way to make time off more affordable for employers. House Bill 609, sponsored by state Rep. David Hawk, R-Greenville, would establish a new line of insurance …

Swarm of Quakes at Alaska Volcano Could Mean Eruption Coming

A swarm of earthquakes occurring over the past few weeks has intensified at a remote Alaska volcano dormant for over a century, a possible indication of an impending eruption. The Alaska Volcano Observatory raised the alert level to advisory status …

Washington Greenhouse Gas Allowance Auction Raises $300M

Washington state’s first auction of greenhouse-gas pollution allowances has generated an estimated $300 million as companies, consumers and the Legislature get a glimpse of the cost of emitting greenhouse gases that are increasing climate catastrophes. The Department of Ecology announced …

OSHA Cites Long Island Thermometer Maker Over Mercury Exposure in Workplace

Federal workplace safety inspectors have cited a New York thermometer manufacturer for overexposing its employees to mercury at its West Babylon facility. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspectors said they determined Kessler Thermometer Corp. overexposed employees to airborne elemental …

NS Train Derails in Alabama Before CEO is Grilled in Congress

A Norfolk Southern train derailed Thursday in Alabama, just hours before the rail company’s CEO testified in Congress about last month’s fiery derailment of an Ohio train carrying hazardous chemicals. The northeast Alabama incident, the latest of several recent derailments …

AM Best Downgrades SCOR’s Ratings

AM Best announced Thursday that it has downgraded the financial strength rating to A (excellent) from A+ (superior) and the long-term issuer credit ratings to “a+” (Excellent) from “aa-” (Superior) of SCOR SE and its main operating subsidiaries. The rating …

Over One Million Vehicles Reported Stolen in 2022

According to a new analysis by the National Insurance Crime Bureau, more than one million vehicles were stolen in the United States last year – marking a 7% increase over 2021. Monthly theft totals nationwide consistently exceeded 75,000 in 2022. …

Groups Charge Alabama Officials with Discrimination in Wastewater Funds Allocation

Environmental organizations have filed a civil rights complaint against Alabama, accusing the state of discriminating against minority communities in how it distributes funding for wastewater infrastructure, including money for families who need help dealing with raw sewage in their yards. …

2022 In Review: It Was Bad

The year 2022 is in the books for most U.S. property/casualty insurers as the days tick down to statutory filing deadlines. Putting the numbers together, AM Best revealed just how bad the aggregate results looked overall. The rating agency’s recent …

Voters in Vermont’s Largest City Nix Police Oversight Board

Voters in Vermont’s largest city have rejected a proposal for a community police oversight board that would have had the authority to discipline and remove Burlington police officers. Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger, a Democrat, vetoed a similar measure in 2020. …

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