Patricia Wells

A UPS cargo plane crashed earlier this month after its left engine broke off just after takeoff, killing 14 people, including those on the ground. A preliminary investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that the engine’s turbine mount had cracks caused by metal fatigue, weakening the structure that held the engine. The … Read more

The Trump administration is moving forward with a plan to open new areas off the coasts of California, Florida, and Alaska for oil and gas drilling. This comes from a draft proposal released on Thursday that could significantly increase offshore oil and gas lease sales across the country. The Interior Department’s plan could include up … Read more

Thousands of hazardous sites along the U.S. coast face the threat of flooding by 2100 due to rising sea levels, putting nearby communities at serious health risk, a new study reveals. The research found that 5,500 locations—handling sewage, trash, oil, gas, and other dangerous materials—could be underwater if carbon emissions continue unchecked. Many of these … Read more

The Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) has reopened certain zip codes for its Strengthen Oklahoma Homes (SOH) Program, giving homeowners in those areas a chance to apply for grants that help protect their homes from storm, wind, and hail damage. This program is designed to support home improvements that make properties safer and more resilient against … Read more

Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. has reached an agreement to buy Commodity & Ingredient Hedging (CIH), a Chicago-based company that offers risk management services for the agricultural and commodity markets. This deal, set to wrap up in the first quarter of 2026, is waiting for standard regulatory approvals before it can be finalized. CIH works with … Read more

Tokio Marine Kiln and Hampden Risk Partners have both announced key appointments that signal fresh momentum in their underwriting teams. At Tokio Marine Kiln, Adele Beresford has joined the Life Sciences underwriting team. Coming from CNA Hardy, where she worked in Financial Lines underwriting, Beresford brings a strong mix of scientific knowledge and underwriting skills. … Read more

Starbucks is now facing a lawsuit from shareholders who say the company hid poor sales in its biggest markets, the U.S. and China. The news came after Starbucks announced a sharp 4.4% drop in same-store sales in its latest quarter, which caused its stock price to fall 16%, wiping out around $16 billion in market … Read more

A federal grand jury in Miami has charged U.S. Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and several others with misusing federal disaster relief money for her 2021 election campaign. The indictment says Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, secured a COVID-19 vaccination contract from FEMA through their healthcare company, Trinity Healthcare Services. The company received an improper $5 … Read more

Specialty insurer IQUW and The Fidelis Partnership have both announced important new hires that will strengthen their teams in reinsurance and aviation underwriting. IQUW has welcomed Alex Gregory as a senior underwriter for their Specialty Reinsurance team in London. Gregory joins from Munich Re Specialty, bringing extensive experience in terrorism and political violence insurance. At … Read more

Commercial insurance premiums saw a slowdown in the third quarter of 2025, according to a recent survey by The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers (CIAB). Overall, prices for commercial property and casualty insurance rose just 1.6%, significantly lower than the 3.7% increase reported in the previous quarter. The survey highlights a clear softening in … Read more