State Farm Begins Sending Non-Renewal Notices in Florida This Week
Thousands of State Farm Florida property insurance customers will be seeing notices in their mailboxes this week saying their policies will not be renewed, a company spokesman said. The first wave …
Michigan Senate Follows House, OKs Ban on Texting While Driving
Michigan lawmakers took a key step
Earthquake Early Warning System Possible
An earthquake early warning system for California is feasible in coming years, according to research being presented at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco this week.
WTO Members Narrow Gaps on Standards in Doha Round Advance
Trading powers have made significant progress this week narrowing their differences on non-tariff barriers — the health or safety standards that can be abused to block imports, a senior diplomat …
Arizona Announces Hot Dog Slip-and-Fall Arrest
The Arizona Department of Insurance Fraud Unit and the Mesa Police say they arrested two suspects this week accused of staging a slip-and-fall accident for insurance money, using the unlikely prop …
Rhode Island Hospital Apology Prompts Actor Woods to Settle Suit
Oscar-nominated actor James Woods settled a lawsuit against a Rhode Island hospital where his brother, Michael, died, a judge announced this week. A hospital executive apologized and agreed to …
Supreme Court Hears Vioxx Arguments on Timing of Investor Lawsuits
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Gov. Crist Urges Florida Lawmakers to Ban Texting While Driving
Gov. Charlie Crist has urged Florida lawmakers to ban texting while driving. Crist this week asked Julie Jones, executive director of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, to …
Seattle Arsonist Has Neighborhood on Edge
Hundreds of people attended a community meeting this week in Seattle's Greenwood neighborhood to hear what police and fire officials are doing about an arson spree.
Kansas Town Considers Tighter Rules on Pit Bulls, Including Insurance
City commissioners in Hays, Kan., could vote this week on strict new rules for pit bull owners. Pit bulls would not be banned in the northwest Kansas community. But a proposed ordinance would …
North Carolina Agent Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement
North Carolina officials said that Jennifer Hughes Puckett, a former insurance agent from Rockingham, appeared this week in Carthage at the Moore County District Court and pleaded guilty to 16 …
No More ‘Free Bite’ for Kentucky Dogs
Dogs will no longer get a “free bite'' in Independence, Kentucky. Officials in the northern Kentucky city put more teeth into the animal control ordinance this week by removing a provision …
GEICO Opens West Virginia Office
GEICO hosted the grand opening of its new local office in Morgantown, West Virginia this week. Jim Robinson, local GEICO field representative, heads the Morgantown office.
Missouri Town Left Off Flood Maps; Portions of Others Missing, Too
Officials from central Missouri towns say preliminary flood insurance maps presented by the Federal Emergency Management Agency this week were incomplete and based on old information.
Michigan Considers Not Prosecuting Underage Drinkers Who Call 911
Minors in Michigan wouldn't be prosecuted for underage drinking if they or their friends call 911 for medical assistance under legislation approved this week with backing from state law …
Temblor Shakes California near Oakland
An earthquake rattled parts of Alameda County in Northern California this week. The U.S.
California Law Blocks Workers’ Comp Payment Rescission
Among the bills signed into California law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this week was a bill that prohibits workers' compensation insurance companies from refusing to pay for services they …
Studies on Possible Link Between Mobile Phones and Cancer Vary Widely
Studies on whether mobile phones can cause cancer, especially brain tumors, vary widely in quality and there may be some bias in those showing the least risk, researchers reported this week. So …
Economic Outlook for Coastal Mississippi, Alabama Brightens
The economic outlook should brighten in 2010-2011 for the Mississippi and Alabama coasts, but that's not the case for the New Orleans area, an economist said this week at a regional economic …
Florida Insurance Chief Grilled by Lawmakers
Some insurance companies could go out of business if a major hurricane hits Florida, the state's insurance commissioner told a Senate panel this week. But after more than an hour grilling by …
Florida Insurance Chief Grilled by Lawmakers
Some insurance companies could go out of business if a major hurricane hits Florida, the state's insurance commissioner told a Senate panel this week. But after more than an hour grilling by …
Suing Now Costs More in Oregon
The cost of filing a lawsuit in Oregon went up this week.
Strong Earthquakes Abroad Could Weaken Geologic Faults in U.S.
Powerful earthquakes may be a trigger for weakening geologic faults a half a world away, U.S. researchers said this week in a study that points to new ways to predict earthquakes. “Earthquakes …
Deer Crashes Increase in Colorado
State Farm Insurance says the number of collisions between vehicles and deer in Colorado has increased by 19 percent since 2004. The study released this week by the insurance company says most …
VP Biden Offers State Insurance Regulators Ground Rules for Healthcare
Vice President Joe Biden told state insurance regulators this week that “soaring'' health care premiums are hurting families and businesses, which he said underscores the need for a healthcare …
Gates Foundation Backs Efforts to Bring Financial Services to World’s Poor
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, best known for its work combating malaria, AIDS and other diseases, announced an effort this week to bring financial services, including savings accounts, to …
California Firefighters Battled Against Weather to Clear Brush
Firefighters this week were racing against the weather to clear brush before heat descended on Southern California, stoking the giant 15-day-old wildfire burning in the Angeles National Forest. … Copyright 2009 Associated Press.
FEMA Delays Disputed Flood Map for Kansas Community
Federal authorities this week delayed implementation of a new flood plain map for Garden City, Kan., just days before local officials planned to ask a federal judge to block it. A hearing …
Washington Implements Flood, Disaster Protections
Washington bills that establish legal protections for consumers in the wake of future disasters went into effect this week. The flood insurance and states of emergency bills (Senate Bill 5417 and …
Utah Says More Hispanic/Latino Worker Safety Outreach Needed
Utah's Workers' Compensation Fund has launched a Hispanic/Latino outreach program to help reduce workplace accidents. According to the WCF, a USA Today report released earlier this week states …