Iowa News

Survey: Midwest Economy Shows Modest Growth Trends

Business conditions in the Midwest are generally on an upward swing, according to a survey of supply managers and business leaders in the region. The Creighton Economic Forecasting Group, directed by Creighton University economics professor Ernie Goss, gauges business conditions …

Congress Approves Final Healthcare Bill Changes

The U.S. Congress approved a package of final changes to President Barack Obama’s landmark healthcare overhaul Thursday, and Obama dared Republicans to try to repeal the new law. The House put the finishing touches on the overhaul by passing a …

Minnesota Scores “A+” on Workers’ Comp Report Card

Minnesota ranks the best in the nation in terms of workers’ compensation performance, according to the Encinitas, Calif.-based Work Loss Data Institute (WLDI), which recently released its 2010 State Report Cards for Workers’ Compensation. Using eight years of data from …

Iowa Legislature Approves Compromise Texting Ban

The Iowa Legislature has approved a compromise package that puts new limits on sending or reading text messages while driving, including tough restrictions on young drivers. Lawmakers have argued about the issue for most of the session. A House-Senate conference …

MMIC Group Promotes Pearson to Vice President of Underwriting

Minneapolis-based MMIC Group has promoted Jeff Pearson to vice president of underwriting. Pearson joined MMIC as senior underwriting manager in 2003. He has worked in the insurance industry for more for 22 years. Pearson began his career as an underwriter …

Kerr Joins InsureZone/AgentSecure as VP of Business Development

Chad Kerr has joined Fort Worth, Texas-based InsureZone/AgentSecure as vice president of Business Development. Kerr will manage multiple facets of business development including the agencies affiliated with the recent CMS acquisition, the top tier of existing AgentSecure agents, and book …

Medicus Adds Network Security Endorsement for Healthcare Providers

Medicus Insurance Co. has created an endorsement that gives insureds coverage for unintentional network security, billing, regulatory and privacy violations. The new endorsement is called Medicus Advantage Gold. The Medicus Advantage Gold endorsement has been added to all Medicus policies …

Iowa Lawmakers Working on Compromise Texting Ban

Iowa lawmakers worked March 17 to hammer out differences in two bills restricting drivers from sending or reading text messages. The legislation also would ban all cell phone use by drivers under 18 years old. The House and Senate previously …

More Than One-Third of U.S. Facing High Risk of Flooding

Major flooding has begun and is forecast to continue through spring in parts of the Midwest, according to the National Weather Service. The South and East are also more susceptible to flooding as an El Niño influenced winter has left …

As Weather Warms, Property Owners Urged to Buy Flood Insurance

Having flood insurance will be increasingly important this year as spring rain combines in many parts of the U.S. with the melting of record snowfall, according to the Insurance Information Institute. “Many states on the Atlantic seaboard were hit with …