United States News

Official Drywall Problems

While drywall-related corrosion is clearly evident, the CPSC said long term safety effects are still under investigation. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is now saying it has found a link between drywall made in China and the home corrosion …

U.S. Finds Strong Link Between Chinese Drywall and Corrosion

Federal safety officials say they have discovered a strong link between drywall made in China and the home corrosion reported by thousands of U.S. property owners whose homes used the drywall. The results are from an indoor air study of …

Business Moves

USAA Military insurance company USAA is expanding its customer base by nearly 35 million prospects by opening up eligibility for its products to all veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time. More than 18 million …

University Dorm Fires on the Rise

Heat From Powered Equipment a Big Contributor An estimated average of 3,800 fires occur each year in university dwellings, amounting to $26 million in property loss, according to a special report by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) United States …

Health Insurers, White House Spar as Healthcare Debate Heats Up

The health insurance industry Thursday struck back at provisions in Congress’ healthcare proposals that it said would do little to curb the nation’s spiraling costs or provide people more affordable coverage. Congress is tip-toeing toward incremental healthcare reform that does …

China, Other Big Developing Countries Reject Copenhagen Climate Plan

China and other big developing nations rejected core targets for a climate deal such as halving world greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 just five days before talks start in Copenhagen, diplomats said Wednesday. China, the world’s top emitter, together with …

Quietest Atlantic Hurricane Season Since 2006 Ends

The Atlantic hurricane season ended this Monday with barely a whimper: Not a single hurricane came ashore in the United States. Since June, when the season began, just nine named storms developed. Only three of them became hurricanes, and those …

BridgeStreet Consulting Names Burden to Lead Midwest Business Development

BridgeStreet Consulting Group, a division of Chicago-based Wells Fargo Insurance Services, has named Christine Burden business development leader for its Midwest operations. BridgeStreet Consulting Group is a national employee benefits consulting firm headquartered in the Bay Area that serves customers …

House Committee Passes Federal Insurance Office Act

The U.S. House Financial Services Committee has passed a measure to create a scaled-back federal office that would be a national insurance information agency with some authority in the area of international insurance agreements. The new federal office would not …

Danish Climate Change Treaty Draft Urges 50% Emissions Cut by 2050

The world should cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2050 from 1990 levels with the bulk of the reduction coming from rich countries, according to a draft proposal by Denmark, host of Dec 7-18 U.N. climate talks. The …