Patricia Wells

Starting this Saturday, passengers flying in China will no longer be allowed to bring power banks on board unless they carry a specific Chinese safety mark. The country’s aviation authority has ordered a ban on power banks that lack the “3C” certification, which shows they meet China’s safety rules. The ban also includes power banks … Read more

Oregon lawmakers have decided to repeal the state’s wildfire hazard map, a move that changes how fire risk is managed for homeowners in certain high-risk areas. The map, which had placed stricter rules on building and vegetation near homes, especially in wildland-urban interface zones, will no longer be the basis for statewide regulations. The repeal … Read more

MS Amlin and Allianz Commercial have both announced key appointments that highlight their focus on growth and expertise within the insurance sector. MS Amlin, part of the global MS&AD insurance group, has brought on Gisela Nilsson as their new senior underwriter for political violence. Nilsson joins from Talbot Underwriting, where she spent years leading a … Read more

In 2024, U.S. insurers paid out about $1 billion in claims for damage caused by lightning, marking a noticeable drop from the previous year. According to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), the total payout was $1.04 billion, down 16.5% from the $1.24 billion paid in 2023. Lightning-related claims also fell sharply in number. There were … Read more

A long-running search for the wreckage of Northwest Orient Flight 2501 has come to an end after more than 20 years. The plane crashed into Lake Michigan in 1950 during a fierce storm, killing all 58 people on board. Despite extensive efforts using sonar technology and covering 700 square miles of the lake, the wreckage … Read more

An Illinois chiropractor was sentenced to nearly two years in prison for defrauding Medicare and a dozen other insurance companies out of millions of dollars. Carrie Musselman, 48, from Eureka, received a 20-month prison term on June 24 after a jury found her guilty of healthcare fraud and multiple counts of wire fraud. Authorities revealed … Read more

Insurance companies covering marine, aviation, cyber, and terrorism risks are facing immediate challenges due to the rising conflict between Iran and Israel. According to a recent report by Morningstar DBRS, these sectors could see heightened underwriting pressures and potential large losses if the tensions continue. The report highlights that marine insurers are the first to … Read more

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has reached a settlement with Domtar Industries, LLC and E.B. Eddy Paper, Inc. over contamination at a composting site near Port Huron. The case involves the release of harmful chemicals called PFAS, which can have long-lasting impacts on the environment and public health. Nessel had filed a lawsuit against the … Read more

A Los Angeles County judge has ruled that the California FAIR Plan’s policy on smoke damage breaks state law by not covering cleanup and remediation costs. The decision came on Tuesday from Judge Stuart Rice, who said the FAIR Plan falls short of the state’s Standard Form Fire Insurance Policy requirements by offering less coverage … Read more

Last September, Hurricane Helene hit Lake Lure, North Carolina, hard. The century-old dam that holds back the lake was badly damaged, with floodwaters carving a huge scar on one side and washing away five months of rain in a single storm. The town’s emergency sirens warned residents of a possible dam failure, urging the 3,000 … Read more