West News

California Warehouse, Logistics Companies Fined Nearly $840K After Worker Pay Probe

Three recent U.S. Department of Labor investigations in San Diego, California recovered nearly $840,000 for 32 employees, some of whom one employer reportedly paid less than $3 per hour. The department’s Wage and Hour Division determined that Ruffo de Alba …

California Commissioner’s Analysis Shows $7.7B in Losses From Extreme Heat Events

The cumulative cost of the seven heat events in California in the past decade amounted to $7.7 billion in losses, a new report shows. The analysis from California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s office is the result of legislation he sponsored …

State Farm Seeking Large Rate Increases in Wildfire-Prone California

State Farm has applied for large rate increases in California, a year after the carrier got rate approvals of 7% and 20%—adding fuel to a burning homeowners crisis in a state that’s seen an increasing number of carriers pullback or …

Washington Insurance Commissioner Fines Unite Health, Others $500K for Violations

Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s office issued more than $500,000 in fines in May and June for violations of state insurance laws and regulations, including fining Unite Health Share Ministries $300,000 for acting as an unauthorized insurer in Washington. Kreidler’s …

Containment on Large California Fire Increased, but Temps Are Expected to Soar

Firefighters increased containment on the biggest wildfire currently burning in California, but triple-digit temperatures are expected to bake the state and increase wildfire risk. The Basin Fire in Fresno County has burned 13,551 acres and is 17% contained, but from …

PG&E Cut Power to 2,000 as Extreme Heat Bakes California

PG&E Corp. cut power to about 2,000 homes and businesses in Northern California as triple-digit temperatures, strong winds and low humidity heightened the risk of wildfires. The utility said it preemptively shut power across small areas of eight counties and …

Arthur J. Gallagher Acquires Cornerstone in California

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. acquired Rancho Cucamonga, California-based Cornerstone Commercial & Personal Insurance Services Inc. Phil Hakopian, Allison Hakopian and their team will remain in their current location under the direction of Scott Firestone, head of Gallagher’s Southwest region …

Report Keys on Impacts of Economic Changes on California Workers’ Comp

Projected changes to California workers’ comp claims frequency and severity due to industry mix of employment are negligible through 2026, while employment in most industries fully recovered from the initial pandemic related changes by the end of 2022, a new …

California Wildfire Outlook: ‘A Challenging Season for Firefighters’

While the official start to California’s wildfire season is still a ways off, the best forecast of what’s ahead may be to look back on the year so far, and so far it’s been far busier for firefighters than last …

Maui Officials Highlight Steps Toward Rebuilding a Year After Deadly Wildfire

Nearly a year after wind-whipped flames raced through Kim Ball’s Hawaii community, the empty lot where his house once stood is a symbol of some of the progress being made toward rebuilding after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than …

West News Archives by Month