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Venice Floods, Australia Wildfires Blamed on Climate Change

Extreme floods in Venice, fires in Australia and even an outbreak of plague in China have been attributed to climate change this week, while researchers have warned that global warming could saddle future generations with life-long illness. Venice declared a …

Texas Oilfield Services Firms to Pay $1.2M to Settle Federal Race Discrimination Suit

Two Houston-based oil field services companies have agreed to pay a total of $1,225,000 to settle a race discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by federal officials. According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Nabors Corporate Services Inc. and C&J …

Wisconsin Insurance Agent Loses License, Must Pay Nearly $800K

An insurance agent in Wisconsin has had his license revoked and ordered to pay nearly $800,000 in penalties and restitution after being found in violation of insurance laws in the state. The former insurance agent, Barry Rumpel, may no longer …

With Focus on Employee Wellbeing, Iowa’s Holmes Murphy Launches ethOs

Waukee, Iowa-based employee-owned and controlled insurance broker, Holmes Murphy, has launched a new company focused on employee wellbeing — ethOs. Led by Ali Payne, EthOs will focus on improving workplace culture, engagement with multi-generational staff, and addressing all aspects of …

Wirth Elected President of Illinois Independent Agents Group

Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois (IIA of IL) has elected Bill Wirth, of Wirth Agency in Waterloo, as president of the group for a term that runs until Sept. 30, 2020. As president, Wirth will serve as a member of …

Gwartney Appointed VP, Employee Benefits at Oklahoma’s Universal Insurance

Dason Gwartney has been named vice president and employee benefits practice leader at Universal Insurance Agency in Durant, Oklahoma, a unit of First United Bank. Gwartney joins First United/Universal with more than 25 years working with employee benefits and insurance …

FAA Chief Vows Improved Safety Reviews of New Aircrafts and Pilot Technology

Aviation regulators around the world need to do a better job of assessing hazards in aircraft designs and understanding how pilots might be tripped up by complex technology in the wake of the two fatal crashes on Boeing Co.’s 737 …

CAC Specialty Names Schaper in Colorado to Lead Real Estate Practice

CAC Specialty has named Chelley Schaper senior vice president in Denver Colo. Schaper has more than 20 years of experience, including 16 years at Lockton working with complex risk accounts, with a specialization in the real estate industry. Most recently, …

FBI Warns on Rise in Sophisticated Cyber Crimes

On Dec. 14, 2018, Aaron Cole was about to buy a new house and received an email that he thought was from his title company, directing him to make a $123,000 deposit. Cole complied, not realizing that a sophisticated hacker …

Golden Bear in California Names Shreve Vice President

Golden Bear Insurance Co. in California has named Gary Shreve vice president and primary casualty manager. Shreve has more than 30 years of experience. He began his career with the Aetna Casualty & Surety Co. as a multi-line underwriter. He’s …

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