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Severe Storms Drench Texas, at Least 3 Tornadoes Reported

Buckets of rain and powerful winds that likely spawned several tornadoes swept across Texas on Jan. 25, forcing drivers to abandon cars on flooded roads but not dropping enough water to make up for a historic dry spell. The squall …

Ratings Roundup: Instituto Nacional, Malaysian Re

A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” to Costa Rica’s Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS), both with stable outlooks. The ratings reflect “INS’ strong capitalization and liquidity position, diversified …

AIG Thinking about Buying Back More of AIA

American International Group Chairman Steve Miller said on Thursday the bailed-out insurance company may eventually want to buy a life insurer outside the United States, including possibly a larger stake in the spun-off Asian unit AIA Group Ltd. as confidence …

New AD&D Coverage Available for Riders and Grooms

The Professional Riders Organization will start offering their members accident and disability insurance through a new policy designed with the assistance of Wells Fargo Insurance Services, AmWINS Group Benefits and underwriter Zurich Insurance. The policy will cover professional event riders …

S&P: Excess Capital, Strong ERM Give Reinsurers 2011 Cat Loss Cushion

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it is “maintaining its stable outlook on the global reinsurance sector despite the near-record level of catastrophe losses in 2011,” as it doesn’t expect “a bias in the direction of any rating actions …

Insurance Exchanges: The World Small to Rule the Big

A pair of industry experts espoused the benefits of insurance exchanges and small agencies today and in the future during the recent Insurance Industry Roundtable run by the WIAA Education & Research Foundation in Irvine, Calif. Richard Kerr, founder and …

Small Quake at Mount St. Helens in Washington

A magnitude 3.4 earthquake occurred at 2:51 a.m. Wednesday about 10 miles north of Mount St. Helens. The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network reports mild shaking was felt in Longview, Castle Rock and Morton. The University of Washington reports the quake …

Flood Damages 145 Vehicles in Oregon Motor Pool

The Oregon State Motor Pool says 145 vehicles were damaged when floodwaters inundated its parking lot Thursday in Salem. The Statesman Journal reports insurance adjusters are adding up the damage. The Department of Administrative Services says the motor pool lot …

San Francisco City Worker Charged With Data Theft

A former San Francisco city employee is facing charges that she stole Social Security and other confidential information from more than 3,000 people who applied for Medi-Cal benefits. Shawn Williams pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to four felony counts of …

Muslim Guard Gets $465,000 in California Harassment Suit

A San Francisco, Calif. jury has awarded $465,000 to a Muslim security guard who says his co-workers and supervisors called him a terrorist and an al-Qaida member. The San Francisco Chronicle reported jurors added $400,000 in punitive damages Monday to …

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