Alabama News

State Preparations for Pandemic Flu Creative But Vary Widely

Trailers packed with cots and medical supplies are parked in secret locations around Colorado, ready for doctors to open makeshift hospitals in school gyms if a flu pandemic strikes. Parts of southeastern Washington are considering drive-thru flu shots during a …

Unilever Recalls Ragu Pasta Sauce over Undeclared Milk

Unilever said that it is, in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration, voluntarily recalling 1,000 jars of a variety of Ragu pasta sauce from North Carolina and 14 other states because the formula contains undeclared milk. People with an …

State Farm to Begin Excluding Wind Coverage in Miss.

A State Farm Insurance Co. executive says the company is no longer offering wind coverage for new customers in Mississippi’s six southernmost counties and is reviewing whether to continue extending the coverage on renewals. Because the base hurricane deductible is …

Another Merck Victory: Ala. Jury Rejects Claims Against Vioxx

State court jurors sided with drug manufacturer Merck & Co. on Friday and rejected the claims of an Alabama man who blamed the painkiller Vioxx for a heart attack in 2001. Attorneys for Gary Albright, 57, had told jurors he …

Kan. Commissioner Elected to National Post

Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger is the newly-elected president-elect of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), according to a department release. She was elected during the NAIC Winter National Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, Dec. 10. Alabama Commissioner Walter …

Ala.’s Bell Heads State Regulators; Kansas’ Praeger Next in Line

Members of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners elected 2007 officers during last week’s winter meeting in San Antonio. Alabama Insurance Commissioner Walter Bell was named president, Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger was chosen as president-elect, New Hampshire Insurance Commissioner …

State Regulators Stress Uniformity of Administrative and Licensing Systems

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners stressed its support for what it says is one of the strongest tools for state regulators, State Based Systems (SBS), during its recent meeting in San Antonio. SBS serves as a back office processing …

New Markets

Coastal Property — Texas Nuts & Bolts: Western Security Surplus has increased capacity to write coastal property coverage in Texas, including wind and hail, Tier 1 and 2 counties. The property coverage is offered via a non-admitted “A” rated market …

New Markets

Trucking Operations Nuts & Bolts: Kansas-based Interstate Insurance Management and Swiss Re’s Commercial Insurance announce the immediate expansion of their insurance program for the trucking industry into Virginia and Indiana. The program, which has been in operation since 1970, provides …

New Markets

Monoline Auto Classes, Small Commercial Nuts & Bolts: Zurich’s small business agents now have more than 500 monoline auto classes to sell. The company has opened an additional 257 existing America Premier classes for monoline auto and added 238 new …