West News

ShakeAlert Adding Satellite Capabilities for Earthquake Warnings

The U.S. Geological Survey and its partners have come out with a new capability designed to characterize large earthquakes quickly in hopes of helping warn the public about potentially damaging shaking headed their way. The ShakeAlert System, currently available in …

Colorado Woman Handcuffed in Police Car Hit by Train Receives $8.5M Settlement

A Colorado woman who was seriously injured when a freight train hit the parked police vehicle in which she sat handcuffed has reached an $8.5 million settlement, a lawyer representing two of the involved police officers said. The city of …

Environmentalists Want to Sue Colorado Refinery for a Thousand Pollution Violations

Environmental groups took the first step to sue the owner of an oil refinery near Denver for years of pollution violations, saying that state regulators haven’t done enough to hold the owner accountable. The refinery owned by Suncor Energy sits …

California City Awarded Grant to Study Insurance Protections from Sea Level Rise

A California city has been awarded a grant to study insurance protections from sea level rise. The City of Imperial Beach received an $848,000 grant to develop flooding adaptation strategies to help prepare residents for coastal flooding expected to intensify …

Emerald Bay and Arrowhead Launch Commercial Earthquake Facility in California, Pacific Northwest

Emerald Bay Risk Solutions and Arrowhead General Insurance Agency Inc. have launched a commercial earthquake facility that provides difference in conditions insurance policies for medium to large businesses. Arrowhead EQ DIC will primarily target businesses in California and the Pacific …

Maui Council to Study Impacts of Eliminating 7,000 Vacation Rentals

Blue Cleaning, a small business in West Maui that spruces up 27 vacation rentals, survived the sharp decline in tourists during the Covid-19 pandemic and after the devastating Aug. 8 wildfire in Lahaina. But now Leo Szakacs-Kekona, who owns and …

People Moves: PCF Insurance Services Names Gray Chief Financial Officer

PCF Insurance Services named Brandon Gray chief financial officer. Gray, who joined PCF in March 2023, previously served as the company’s senior vice president and treasurer. His promotion to CFO follows Felix Morgan’s December 2023 appointment to CEO from his …

PacifiCorp to Pay $178M in Latest Settlement Over Deadly 2020 Oregon Blazes

Pacific Power, part of PacifiCorp, said Monday it has agreed to a $178 million settlement with over 400 Oregon plaintiffs in the latest multimillion-dollar payout related to the deadly 2020 wildfires that ravaged the state. In other cases that have …

Hub Acquires Combined HCM in California

Hub International Ltd. acquired the assets of Combined Benefits Inc., Combined Commercial Insurance Services LLC., and Combined Employer Services Inc. Donny Woo, CEO, and Jonathan Zhao, vice president of payroll, and the Combined HCM team will join Hub LAOC. Combined …

Oregon Report Keys in on Disabling Claims for Occupational Injuries

Oregon’s Department of Consumer and Business Services received notification of 24,947 accepted disabling claims for occupational injuries and diseases in 2022, according to a new report looking back on data from the year. Employment increased by 71,100 workers and claims …

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