West News

Cooler Weather Helping Fight Large Southern California Wildfire

Cooler weather is aiding the fight against a large Southern California wildfire, one of three large fires in the region. The Bridge Fire exploded in size on Tuesday, forcing evacuations in the communities of Wrightwood and Pinion Hills. Authorities also …

How Big Was the Cat? Investigator Warns About Claims of Clogged Toilets

Did you hear the one about cat poop clogging a toilet, resulting in thousands of gallons of sewage water in the home and a big insurance claim? Lin Werkheiser, an insurance fraud investigator, has heard that one and many more …

$1 Billion San Francisco Tower’s Revival Clouded by Lawsuit

One of San Francisco’s most iconic buildings is celebrating its reopening after a four-year, $250 million makeover meant to symbolize the city’s renewal. It’s doing so under the shadow of a lawsuit from one of its key tenants. The Transamerica …

Oregon Workers’ Comp Pure Premium Rate to Drop 3.2%

Oregon employers will pay on average less for workers’ compensation coverage in 2025. The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services the decline in workers’ comp rate, which marks 12 years of average decreases in the pure premium rate. Employers …

New Mexico Attorney General Files Suit Against Snapchat

New Mexico’s attorney general has filed a lawsuit against the company behind Snapchat, alleging that site’s design and policies foster the sharing of child sexual abuse material and facilitate child sexual exploitation. Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed the lawsuit against …

Firefighters Hope Cooler Weather Will Aid Battle Against 3 Major Southern California Fires

Firefighters battling three major wildfires in the mountains east of Los Angeles took advantage of cooler weather Wednesday as they slowly gained the upper hand, but not before dozens of homes were destroyed and thousands of people were forced to …

People Moves: Meister Joins Sertis as SVP, Distribution Partnerships; Alliant Names Mast SVP, Employee Benefits Group; Venbrook Names Oakes EVP

Meister Joins Sertis as SVP, Distribution Partnerships Sertis, headquartered in Reno, Nevada, appointed Kurt Meister as senior vice president, distribution partnerships. Meister has more than 36 years of experience in the insurance industry, including underwriting leadership, program management and broker …

New Southern California Wildfire Threatens Mountain Communities

A quick-moving wildfire raced toward Southern California mountain communities as authorities warned residents to evacuate. The Bridge fire exploded on Tuesday, burning into the Wrightwood community and nearby Mountain High ski resort. The fire has burned 47,288 acres and is …

Wife of California Inmate Wins $5.6 Million in Settlement for Strip Search

The wife of a California inmate will receive $5.6 million after being sexually violated during a strip search when she tried to visit her husband in prison, her attorneys said. After traveling four hours to see her husband at a …

AM Best Places Credit Ratings of Oregon Mutual Group Members Under Review

AM Best has placed under review with negative implications the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of “a-” (Excellent) of Oregon Mutual Insurance Co. and Western Protectors Insurance Co., which are domiciled in McMinnville, …

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