Mississippi News

Mississippi Coast Benefits from U.S. Spending on Post-Katrina Projects

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has 15 post-Hurricane Katrina coastal recovery projects on the Mississippi Gulf Coast budgeted at $132 million, including projects costing $30.5 million in Jackson County. Susan Rees, program manager for the corps’ Mississippi Coastal Improvements …

Motor Carriers Hit Over Safety; Are Insurance Limits Too Low?

A new analysis of government data reveals that more than 28,000 motor carrier companies that operate 200,000 trucks have violated federal safety regulations. The trial bar association, the American Association for Justice (AAJ), said it found commuters are sharing roads …

Progress Celebrated on Fourth Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

Gulf Coast officials and residents marked the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with a mix of solemn remembrances and celebrations of how far the region has come in its recovery from the storm’s devastation. In New Orleans, the day began …

Numbers Tell of Reconstruction of Mississippi Since Hurricane Katrina

August 29 will mark four years since Hurricane Katrina pummeled Mississippi. Since then, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in partnership with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and other state and local governments and organizations, has helped the state rebuild. …

Mississippi Insurance Chief Criticizes State Farm’s 45% Coastal Rate Hike

State Farm is looking to raise coastal homeowners insurance rates in Mississippi an average 45 percent but the state regulator isn’t very receptive to the idea. “I am not going to approve the present filing,” Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney stated …

States Give ‘Thumbs Up’ to Fingerprinting Insurance Producers

Don’t be alarmed, but there are convicted criminals roaming around the country acting as insurance producers. They could be drunk drivers, robbers, forgers, possibly even rapists. They got their producer licenses in states that did not ask them for their …

Central Texas MGA Adds New Carriers for Various Product Lines

Tejas American General Agency (TAGA), an independent privately-owned managing general agency based in the Austin, Texas, area, has recently added three new markets – Insurors Indemnity, Gotham Insurance Company and Accident Fund – which provide access to coverage for a …

Family Health Insurance Premiums Seen Rising 94% by 2020

Nationally, family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance increased 119 percent between 1999 and 2008, and could increase another 94 percent to an average $23,842 per family by 2020 if cost growth continues on its current course, according to a new …

Specialty Risk Associates Is Expanding Management Team

Louisiana-based insurance wholesaler, Specialty Risk Associates Inc., announced several changes to its management team that will become effective Sept. 1. Thomas Garland was named chief operating officer. Garland joined Specialty Risk in 2004 as vice president of Marketing and Underwriting …

Gulf Coast Can’t Forget Hurricane Camille of 40 Years Ago

Scouring an aerial photograph taken three days after Hurricane Camille crashed ashore on Mississippi’s Gulf coast, Richard Rose points to the spot where his father’s body washed into the chimney of a ruined home. Rose was only 10 when one …