State and Regional News

Tennessee Teens Delay Getting Behind the Wheel

Mackenzie Leake put off learning to drive for almost a year longer than most of her friends. It was out of a sense of self-preservation. “Every day I went out, I saw some sort of accident or scattered car parts …

Fee Schedules Stabilized Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Costs

Average medical costs per workers’ compensation claim in Tennessee stabilized at pre-fee schedule levels after the state introduced medical fee schedules in 2005, according to a new study. According to the report by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI), the …

Two North Dakota Insurance Agents Lose Licenses

North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm has revoked the licenses of two insurance agents. Hamm has barred a Fargo insurance agent Janet Lulay from doing insurance work in the state. He says Lulay accepted a check from an insurance client …

Abandoned Properties in Louisiana a Growing Problem

In Rapides Parish, Louisiana, officials know they have a problem with abandoned, rundown properties. That poses another problem: what to do with them. As economic conditions have stagnated, rising numbers of properties have been vacated and left to decay. The …

Election Results Could Upset Michigan Supreme Court Calendar

Election results have created uncertainty at the Michigan Supreme Court where 18 cases were scheduled to be argued in December before Republicans won two seats to put conservatives in control on Jan. 1. Justice Alton Davis, a Democrat, was defeated …

Mississippi Court Denies Bid for Katrina Claims Data

The Mississippi Supreme Court has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a Long Beach man who wanted the state to release records that would show the dollar amount of Hurricane Katrina claims denied by insurance companies. In 2009, …

Manchin U.S. Senate Win Elevates Democrat Tomblin to Governor Post

West Virginians essentially chose a new state chief executive when they voted to send Gov. Joe Manchin to the U.S. Senate, but his Tuesday win has also forced to the forefront questions about the succession process. Senate President Earl Ray …

Florida Republicans Eye Special Session to Revisit Crist Vetoes

Incoming Republican legislative leaders said they are considering calling a special session in the coming weeks to override some of Gov. Charlie Crist’s vetoes. Crist’s veto of a property insurance bill could be on the list of vetoes to be …

Republicans Regain Control of Michigan Supreme Court

Republicans regained control of the Michigan Supreme Court by capturing two seats Tuesday, riding the same electoral wave that made the GOP victorious in all major statewide races. Wayne County Judge Mary Beth Kelly and incumbent Justice Robert Young Jr. …

Arkansas Insurance Dept. to Stop Accepting Paper Filings in March

Effective March 1, 2011, the Arkansas Insurance Department (AID) will no longer accept paper filings. All filings submitted on or after March 1, 2011, must be filed via the System for Electronic Rate and Form Filing (SERFF). Additionally, AID mandates …