Southeast News

Alabama’s WRM Group Joins Higginbotham

WRM Group, formed just over a year ago with the merger of two of Alabama’s oldest insurance agencies, has now joined Higginbotham, one of the largest agency groups in the Southeast. Terms and details of the partnership were not released. …

Marijuana Dispensary Sues Over Mississippi Regs that Bar Advertising

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The owner of a Mississippi medical marijuana dispensary filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday challenging state regulations that he says censor business owners by preventing them from advertising. After Mississippi legalized medical marijuana for people with debilitating …

Former Orlando Museum Director Countersues Over Fake Basquiat Art Scandal

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A former executive director of a Florida museum that was raided last year by the FBI over an exhibit of what turned out to be forged Jean- Michel Basquiat paintings filed counterclaims Tuesday against the museum, …

Is Miami-Dade, Once the Leader in Strong Building Requirements, Now Out of Step?

Editor’s note: For almost three decades, Florida contractors and building officials have operated under two different building codes: One for most of the state and another for the southeastern corner – Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, known as the High Velocity …

Holding Company for American Southern Reports Improved Net Earnings for Q3

Atlantic American Corp., the holding company for property/casualty insurer American Southern Insurance Co., Bankers Fidelity Life, and an employee benefits unit, this week reported third-quarter net income of $1.8 million, an improvement over the same period a year earlier. It …

Disney Study Says it Has $40B Impact on Florida as it Battles DeSantis in Court

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Disney on Tuesday released a study showing its economic impact in Florida at $40.3 billion as it battles Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his appointees over their takeover of the district that governs the entertainment company`s …

Florida Officials Pause Plan to Disband Pro-Palestinian Student Groups, Citing Liability

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A plan to prohibit a pro-Palestinian student group from state university campuses in Florida has been temporarily shelved while officials reassess the proposal. State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues said Thursday that campus groups at the …

Florida OIR Approves Record Workers’ Comp Rate Cut, Despite Roofers’ Concerns

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and the state insurance commissioner have approved a 15.1% average decrease in workers’ compensation rates, despite calls from roofing contractors to freeze rates for a while. The decrease takes effect for new and renewal …

American Coastal, Once Affiliated with UPC, Has Buyer for Interboro in New York

American Coastal Insurance Corp., formerly affiliated with Florida-based United Property & Casualty Insurance, announced it has a cash buyer for Interboro Insurance Co. in New York. According to the company, the unnamed buyer will acquire 100% of the issued and …

2 Arrested After Atlanta Apartment Fire Linked to Fireworks Displaces 100+

ATLANTA (AP) — Two people have been arrested in connection with a fire that damaged an Atlanta apartment complex and led to more than a hundred evacuations. Atlanta news outlets reported that the fire happened Friday night. Firefighters were still …

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