Alabama News

Coal Industry Urged to Build New ‘Culture of Prevention’

Coal companies must replace by-the-book compliance with a culture of prevention if they want to eliminate the underground fires and explosions that are killing miners, says a panel of experts releasing recommendations for the industry. The Mine Safety Technology and …

Alabama’s Bell to Lead National Insurance Commissioners Group

State Insurance Commissioner Walter Bell is about to become the first Alabamian to lead the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Bell takes over as president on Sunday during the NAIC’s meeting in San Antonio, Texas. No Alabama insurance commissioner has …

Virginia Mutual Policyholders OK Stock Conversion, Merger with Alfa

Policyholders of Virginia Mutual Insurance Co. have approved the previously announced plan of conversion with Alfa Corp., the companies reported. Under the agreement, Virginia Mutual will convert from a mutual company to a stock company and simultaneously merge with a …

Judge Slashes Pay for CEO of Ala.-based Vesta Insurance

A bankruptcy judge slashed the monthly salary of Vesta Insurance Group chief executive David Lacefield to $15,000, siding with creditors who claimed he was making too much as the company is liquidated. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Thomas Bennet ruled that Lacefield’s …

Reynolds Named Southeast Manager for Mutual Insurer Trade Group

The former director of public affairs for Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, Liz Reynolds, has joined the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies as state affairs manager for the southeast. Reynolds, will be stationed in Jacksonville, Fla., and will advocate on …

Alabama mayor resigns to join coastal captive

Foley, Ala., Mayor Tim Russell has resigned with two years remaining in his term in order to serve on a planned coastal insurance captive for south Alabama. Russell, who owns an insurance agency and became mayor about 12 years ago, …

Judicial races in Southeast, nation prove contentious, costly

The midterm 2006 judicial elections saw judicial campaign contribution and advertising records smashed in numerous states holding high court elections. Voters went to the polls in 22 contested Supreme Court races in 10 states on Nov. 7. Campaigns for seats …

How Southeast insurance chiefs got their jobs

Southeast insurance commissioners seem happy about how they got where they are. During the recent Southeastern Regulators’ Association annual conference in South Carolina, moderator Michael Maloney asked: “What do you see are the benefits of being an elected official versus …

Southeast regulators united in call for national disaster plan

The New Madrid fault line, the Atlantic hurricane season and tornado alley are just a few factors that weigh heavily on the minds — and regulatory decisions — of insurance regulators in the southeastern United States. If insurance commissioners in …

Mail Service Resumes at Ala. Department of Insurance

Incoming mail service has resumed at the Alabama Department of Insurance, following a disruption due to a tornado that struck the main U.S. Postal Service facility in Montgomery on Nov. 15. Department officials encourage those who may have mailed items …