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California-based insurance brokerage ALKEME has acquired Innovative Insurance Group, a major player among Virginia’s insurance agencies. This move broadens ALKEME’s reach on the East Coast, with the local team continuing to work out of its eight Virginia offices. Innovative Insurance Group was formed in 2015 when four Virginia benefits agencies combined. The company focuses on … Read more

The Great Barrier Reef has suffered its biggest loss of live coral in a single year in 40 years of monitoring, according to Australian scientists. This sharp decline comes mainly from coral bleaching caused by rising ocean temperatures linked to climate change. Despite this setback, the total amount of living coral remains close to the … Read more

Two workers lost their lives and at least ten others were injured after an explosion rocked a U.S. Steel plant just outside Pittsburgh on Monday morning. The blast took place around 10:51 a.m. inside the battery operating area at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works. Emergency crews were quick to respond. First responders managed to … Read more

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has been extended through January 2026 following a continuing appropriations bill signed on November 12. This move comes after the program lapsed on October 1 due to lawmakers failing to agree on funding. The lapse caused a disruption for policyholders and delayed home sales that depend on flood insurance. … Read more

Starting at the end of 2028, New York will bring in a new way to check if drivers have car insurance. The State Senate recently approved a bill that requires all insurance companies offering motor vehicle policies to join an online system for real-time verification. This means the Department of Motor Vehicles and law enforcement … Read more

New Mexico homeowners Nickolaus and Crista Wiegel are taking legal action against Allstate Vehicle and Property Insurance Company after a hailstorm damaged their home in Clovis. The couple claims Allstate mishandled their insurance claim, rejecting a significant portion of the payout despite an appraisal panel awarding them over $332,000. The trouble began on May 24, … Read more

People living in central North Carolina whose homes and belongings were damaged by heavy rains from Tropical Storm Chantal last month can now apply for state financial help. The aid is available to residents in eight counties around the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area, following a state disaster declaration signed by Governor Josh Stein. The storm dumped … Read more

Two deputies in Greenville County, South Carolina, were seriously injured during a SWAT training exercise when they were shot with live breaching rounds instead of blanks. The incident happened on July 29 at a vacant school building where officers were practicing room clearing. According to Sheriff Hobart Lewis, the rounds used were taken from a … Read more

Smith Brothers Insurance, a Connecticut-based broker, has expanded its reach by acquiring Moscato & Associates, an independent agency located in Ithaca, New York. The deal, finalized on August 1, 2025, brings Moscato & Associates’ expertise in employee benefits, individual health, and Medicare under the Smith Brothers umbrella. Edward Moscato and his team will join Smith … Read more

In construction, general contractors depend a lot on subcontractors to finish projects. But working together also means they share the risks involved. To protect themselves, contractors usually ask subcontractors to add them as "additional insured" on their insurance policies. This may sound straightforward, but there’s often confusion about what it actually means. Simply listing someone … Read more