Minnesota Culver’s Franchise Reaches $261K Settlement in Harassment Case

R & G Endeavors, Inc., which operates Culver’s Restaurants in Cottage Grove, Minnesota, will pay $261,000 to settle two lawsuits filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). These cases involve serious allegations of harassment and discrimination based on race, sex, sexual orientation, and disability. According to the EEOC, several employees faced a hostile … Read more

The costs of storm damage are frequently unclear, which complicates our understanding of risk.

On January 5, 2025, a severe hailstorm hit Chatham, Mississippi, around 2:35 PM, bringing with it quarter-size hail. While there were no reported injuries, the storm caused an estimated $10,000 in property damage, according to the federal storm events database. However, the accuracy of this damage estimate is uncertain. Experts suggest that such figures are … Read more

Researchers Confront Intense Storms to Investigate Hail, the Most Expensive Weather Threat

As severe storms sweep across the central United States, a dedicated team of scientists is braving the elements to investigate a weather phenomenon that often goes unnoticed: hail. While hail rarely causes fatalities, it inflicts significant damage, costing the U.S. about $10 billion annually in damages to roofs, cars, and crops. This research effort, part … Read more

Texas Legislators Restricted Recreational THC to Expand Access to Medical Marijuana

Texas lawmakers have made significant changes to the state’s drug policy, particularly focusing on banning tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products. This year, Senate Bill 3 emerged as a key piece of legislation, prohibiting the possession of consumable hemp products containing synthetic cannabinoids like delta-8. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick championed this bill, citing concerns about the impact of … Read more

BlackRock Avoids Texas Oil Boycott List Following ESG Shift

BlackRock Inc., the world’s largest asset manager, has been taken off Texas’ blacklist of companies that boycott fossil fuels. This decision ends a three-year conflict over the firm’s environmental policies. As a result, Texas pension funds and state investment accounts, which manage over $300 billion, can now invest in BlackRock shares and funds, as well … Read more

Hub International Purchases Wycoff Insurance Agency in Washington

Hub International Ltd. has announced the acquisition of Wycoff Insurance Agency Inc., located in Mount Vernon, Washington. This move allows Wycoff Insurance to become part of Hub International, a major player in the insurance and financial services sector. Chris Eisses, the president of Wycoff Insurance, along with Donnie Keltz, who holds the roles of vice … Read more