Monthly Archives: <span>February 2017</span>

Analysts Skeptical of Zurich Insurance Cost-Cutting, Future Growth

Zurich Insurance Group AG fell in Zurich trading after posting a quarterly profit supported by one-time gains as Chief Executive Officer Mario Greco presses ahead with an overhaul of Switzerland’s largest insurer. Net income for the three months through December …

South Dakota Legislators Consider Bill on Confidential Settlements

A bill that would roll back a provision in the state’s public records law that Sioux Falls, S.D., used to keep secret the details of a settlement over faulty siding at the Denny Sanford Premier Center is scheduled to be …

Tornadoes Cause Damage, Injuries in Southern Louisiana

The tornadoes that struck southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday injured about 20 people, destroyed homes and businesses, flipped cars and trucks, and left about 10,000 customers without power, but no deaths were reported, the governor said. Gov. John Bel Edwards took …

New Oregon Bill Seeks to Prohibit Employers From Barring Workers From Smoking Pot on Days Off

Employers in Oregon would be prohibited from banning marijuana use by employees during their days off under a bill introduced in the Oregon Senate. The bill is among several that cover marijuana, whose recreational use was legalized in a statewide …

Mississippi University to Demolish 5 Buildings After Jan. 21 Tornado

Mississippi officials announced Tuesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved aid to governments in Forrest, Lamar and Perry counties following a Jan. 21 tornado, as a hard-hit university announced it would have to demolish five buildings following the …

Company Promised to Advance Settlements Allegedly Scammed 9/11, NFL Concussion Victims

New York and federal authorities sued a company Tuesday that they say scammed sick 9/11 responders and NFL players who are receiving payouts for concussion-related injuries. In the lawsuit, the New York Attorney General and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau …

Farmers’ Data Reveals Most Winter Home and Car Hazards Declined in Recent Years

Many Americans face significant risks from winter weather between the months of December and February, according to Farmers Insurance Seasonal Smarts Digest. The report, released in December, analyzed customer claims data from 2013 through 2016 to uncover the major winter …

More Insurers Adopting Predictive Analytics to Combat Fraud

Declining cost barriers, the availability of cloud storage and telematics will likely increase predictive analytic adoption rates, according to Dan Donovan, assistant vice president of Claims Solutions at Verisk Insurance Solutions. Though predictive modeling has been used for some time …

Alaska City’s Search and Rescue Crew Sees Spike in Alcohol-Related Calls

Members of Bethel’s volunteer search and rescue organization are dealing with a spike in alcohol-related calls this winter, which is putting a strain on the group’s budget. The increase in calls comes during the southwest Alaska town’s first winter of …

Super Bowl Halftime Drone Swarm Was Pretaped to Shield Crowd

The synchronized swarm of 300 drones lit up the night sky behind Lady Gaga, morphing into an American flag as she recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Sunday’s Super Bowl halftime light show – prerecorded to comply with prohibitions on flying …