Daily Headlines: Tuesday, May 1, 2012

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May 1, 2012 News By Region  National  International  East  Midwest  Southeast  South Central  West Video Today's Headlines National Nationwide Mutual Completes Harleysville Merger Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. said that the company completed its previously announced $834 million merger deal with Harleysville Mutual ... Bill Aims to Fix Problems with Medicare Set-Asides for Workers’ Compensation The insurance industry is among the business and legal interests applauding legislation to resolve delays and inconsistencies in ... Fewer Auto Insurance Buyers Shopping But More Switching Carriers: J.D. Powers The auto insurance shopping rate has reached the lowest point in the past five years, with only 25 percent of insurance customers ... Ratings Recap: Gateway, State Mutual, Discovery, Southern Mutual A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to 'B' (Fair) from 'B+' (Good) and issuer credit rating to "bb" from ... Allianz, CargoNet Introduce Deductible Waiver Agreement Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) has announced an agreement with its U.S. affiliate AGCS Marine Insurance Co. and CargoNet, ... The Main Street America Group Enhances Automated Commercial Auto Product The Main Street America Group has introduced a remodeled commercial auto product to independent insurance agents who represent the super ... OneBeacon Forms New Specialty Program Group OneBeacon Insurance Group, Ltd. has formed its newest specialty business, OneBeacon Program Group (OBPG), which will be led by President Dan... Business Income Demystified At Last - A Training Series Few insurance coverages illicit such fear or visceral reactions as does business income coverage (aka time element coverage). Without being too glib, business income concepts are... More National News East Mass. Health Insurance Base Rate Up 1.2% on Average for Third Quarter The Massachusetts Division of Insurance (DOI) said this week that it is placing on file small-group health insurance base rates for the ... New England Officials Testify at Storm Hearing Spurred by major storms that had left millions of New Englanders without power last year, a Senate committee is questioning what can be ... Dispute Over Insurance Management Heads to Hearing in New Hampshire A long-running dispute over how a nonprofit organization manages health insurance for 80,000 state workers and retirees in New Hampshire ... Aon Risk Solutions Appoints Senior VP in Washington, D.C., Office Aon Risk Solutions, the global risk management business of Aon plc, recently hired industry veteran Kathy Jacobson as senior vice president ... Coverage for Paranormal Activity? It Depends on the Specifics One of the biggest stories in Toms River, N.J., in recent weeks involved an alleged haunted house in the neighborhood. According to local ... More East News Midwest St. Louis Stadium Tent Collapse Raises Safety Questions St. Louis, Mo., officials are expected to more closely scrutinize the large tents commonly set up near downtown stadiums after one of the ... Fireman's Fund Names to Roth High Net Worth Role in Chicago Novato, Calif.-based Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. added Lee Roth as a new high net worth personal insurance executive in its Chicago ... Lawsuit Targets Indiana's Largest Hospital Group Indiana's hospital boards and trial lawyers are closely monitoring a lawsuit that accuses the state's largest hospital group of charging ... More Midwest News Southeast Mississippi Wind Pool Buys $815 Million in Reinsurance Mississippi's insurer of last resort has bought $815 million in reinsurance for the coming storm season. The Mississippi Windstorm ... Alabama Lawmakers Pass Tax-Free Weekend for Disaster Supplies As Alabama prepares to observe the first anniversary of deadly tornadoes last April 27, the Legislature approved the creation of a tax-free ... Alabama Beach Condo Developer Wants BP to Pay Claim Developers of an Orange Beach, Alabama condo project say BP should pay out a claim they filed for losses they say resulted from the 2010 ... More Southeast News South Central Red River Waterway Closure Business Interruption Costs Adding Up The costs of closing the Red River Waterway in Louisiana for 15 days haven't been fully totaled, but they're adding up to millions of ... Oklahoma House Again Passes Severe Weather Liability Bill Legislation approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives would eliminate liability for any entity or person providing access to a safe ... Bockmon Joins All-Star Insurance in New Texas Office Gilmer, Texas-based All-Star Insurance Group Inc., a full service independent insurance agency, has appointed Leslie Bockmon as an agent. ... More South Central News West Hunter Joins Woodruff-Sawyer & Co. in Sacramento Woodruff-Sawyer & Co. announced that Linda M. Hunter has joined the firm as vice president, Sacramento Employee Benefits practice ... Tanana River Ice Jam Floods Alaska's Manley Hot Springs Five homes have been flooded in the interior Alaska community of Manley Hot Springs and high water is threatening 20 more. The Fairbanks ... Colorado Wildfire Ambushed Crews, Surprised Residents Outside the windows of Steve Foster's pickup, Armageddon was coming. A rampage of smoke – white and streaked with black – crested the ... 1000s Ticketed For Using Cellphones While Driving Thousands of Nevadans have been ticketed for violating a new state law prohibiting the use of cellphones while driving. According to the ... Southern Arizona Science Project Sparks Wildfire A science project at a southern Arizona school sparked a 15-acre wildfire and led to the school's evacuation. The project involved model ... More West News International Shipping Exec: India’s State Insurers to Provide $50 Million Cover for Iran Oil Buy Indian state-run insurers have agreed to give limited cover to local ships for carrying Iranian oil, helping the energy-hungry country ... Willis Review Sees Better Times Ahead for Aviation Industry The airline and aviation manufacturing insurance markets turned a profit in 2011 "following one of the safest years in recent times in ... Lockton Consolidates International Operations with Trident III Buyout Insurance broker Lockton announced that it has acquired the minority stake in its operations outside the U.S. held by Trident III, L.P., an ... Earnings Report: Aspen Holdings Selected earnings highlights from Aspen Holdings for the first quarter of 2012 are as follows:      ... SCOR Posts 11% Increases in Renewal Pricing SCOR Global P&C (SGPC) recorded 11 percent growth at constant exchange rates from the €328 million [$435 million] in premiums that ... More International News Sponsored Content Insurance Journal now available on the iPhone - Download it free today! More Sponsored Content Insurance Journal Blogs Sponsor Post: WARNING: Leveraging the Power of LinkedIn Will Lead to Networking and Growth Opportunities! This post is part of a series sponsored by Astonish Results. Since it focuses on business and networking opportunities as opposed to photos ... More Blogs Join the Insurance Journal Network Insurance Journal TV Annual Live Training Burn Educates Adjusters Pat Andler, a certified fire investigator and owner of Andler & Associates discusses the... Watch Now What D&O Buyers Look For In a Carrier What do insureds look for when shopping for a carrier to provide director and officers... Watch Now Watch more videos at InsuranceJournal.tv New Discussions in the Forums Is it possible to get insurer appointments just starting out Posted: Mon Apr 30 -- d's insurance store usually gives good advice-this time is no exception. I will be a bit more blunt...6 months to a year will only scratch... jackwehoca 1-800-Car-Insurance Posted: Mon Apr 30 -- I can understand how words in phone numbers can drive you nuts. The bottom line is that they work, and companies spend millions of dollars... glabman New Venture - Non-Emergency transporation Posted: Sat Apr 28 -- I am looking to insure the same risk. Any luck meytai? marmar NEEDED:History and Current Trends of the Independent Agent Posted: Fri Apr 27 -- The state to the north of you has a resource as well. PIA (Professional Insurance Agents Association). They can be a vast resource &... dm307799 How do you ask for a referral? Posted: Thu Apr 26 -- Instead of referrals, have you tried using any lead services? Auds looking for feedback/advice please.... Posted: Wed Apr 25 -- My suggestion is to work with an independent agent as a producer. The KEY is to negotiate a good commission split and that YOU OWN YOUR BOOK... NYagent301 What are your thoughts on the insurance industry Posted: Tue Apr 24 -- The key question for anyone thinking that the road to riches is paved with personal lines insurance policies is to ask 'what can I do... d's insurance store Go to Forums Reader Comments Republicans Prepare Should Supreme Court Overturn Healthcare Plan Posted: Wed Apr 25 -- This is pure rubbish. Your comments are stereotypes, assumptions and generalizations. Jill Returning Soldiers Involved in More Car Crashes: Study Posted: Tue Apr 24 -- God bless our men and women in uniform, and those who wore it proudly. I suppose we should be grateful that they're not driving armored... reality bites Missouri Woman Wins $5.8M in 'Girls Gone Wild' Case Posted: Mon Apr 30 -- You're both disgusting. How would you feel being pantsed at a bar and having it filmed and distributed it without your permission. It's... Flipside Former N.J. School Chief in Insurance Bribery Scheme Drops Suit Posted: Thu Apr 26 -- Dear Mr. Ritacco: You broke the law in the performance of your duties. Sorry but we don't feel obligated to live up to the terms of your... reality bites As America's Waistline Expands, Costs Soar Posted: Mon Apr 30 -- Holy Cow! What can you do besides educate people, and then get them to take responsibility for their actions? Everything can be cured by a... 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