Alabama News

Mississippi’s BancorpSouth Acquires Texas Insurance Company

Tupelo, Miss.-based BancorpSouth Insurance Services Inc., a subsidiary of BancorpSouth Bank, said Monday it has signed a deal to buy JMG/IC Insurance Agency Inc., of Nacogdoches, Texas. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Joe Max Green, chairman of JMG/IC …

Brutal Tornadoes Lacerate Southern States Killing at Least 48 People

A severe weather front fell upon the Southern states inciting a series of strong tornadoes that moved across Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas, wreaking damage and killing at least 48. As the information of the damage and fatalities reached the …

Miss. A.G.: State Farm Suit Based on ‘Lies, Speculation and Innuendo’

A lawsuit filed by State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. that accuses Attorney General Jim Hood of using the threat of criminal charges to force settlements in civil lawsuits is based on “lies, speculation, and innuendo,” Hood said in court …

BancorpSouth Insurance to Buy JMG/IC Insurance of Texas

BancorpSouth Insurance Services, Inc., a subsidiary of BancorpSouth Bank, headquartered in Tupelo, Miss., has agreed to acquire the Nacogdoches, Texas — based JMG/IC Insurance Agency, Inc. The effective date of the transaction will be Jan. 1, 2008. Financial terms of …

Fire that Destroyed Alabama Animal Shelter Ruled Arson

Alabama fire marshals have determined that arson was to blame for a November fire that destroyed an unlicensed animal shelter in Rainsville, Ala., whose operator said more than 50 animals died as a result of the blaze. “We are now …

Court Records: Miss. Lawyer to Take 5th in State Farm Suit

Plaintiffs attorney Richard “Dickie” Scruggs, facing corruption and contempt charges in unrelated cases, will invoke the Fifth Amendment if forced to testify in a federal lawsuit involving Mississippi’s attorney general, according to court records. Scruggs is scheduled for a deposition …

Former Hurricane Program Manager to Head Ala. Emergency Agency

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley appointed Brock Long to serve as director of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency. Long has served in emergency management at the state and federal levels specializing in hurricane planning and response. Riley and Long met with …

Donegal Mutual and Subsidiary Atlantic States to Change Pooling Agreement

Donegal Group Inc., based in Marietta, Pa., is moving to amend the intercompany pooling agreement between Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States Insurance Co., its largest insurance subsidiary. Subject to approval by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, the proposed amendment will increase …

Alabama Supreme Court Reverses Course, Offers Hope to Ill Workers

In a 5-4 decision, the Alabama Supreme Court reversed direction and allowed lawsuits from workers who become ill many years after being exposed to dangerous chemicals. The majority said the two-year statute of limitations for filing suit begins to run …

Ambulance Co. Loses Insurance, 23 Miss. Counties in State of Emergency

Mississippi health officials hoped to come with a plan last week to restore ambulance service in 23 counties left hanging when Alabama-based Emergystat shut down. Emergystat, based in Vernon, Ala., notified Mississippi officials Jan. 23 that it had halted operations. …