West News

Idaho State University To Pay $400K For Medical Records Breach

Idaho State University is paying a $400,000 to the federal government to settle allegations it improperly exposed confidential medical records. In August 2011, ISU told the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services of a breach of its unsecured electronic …

1-3 Tropical Cyclones Expected For Central Pacific

It’s looking like it’ll be a below-normal hurricane season for the central Pacific. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued its 2013 central Pacific hurricane outlook Wednesday at a news conference in Honolulu. Hurricane season starts June 1 and runs …

California Offers Glimpse Into Health Insurance Prices Under Obamacare

California unveiled prices on Thursday that consumers will pay for a selection of health plans offered through the state under the Affordable Care Act, providing a glimpse into how health care reform may look as it is rolled out across …

Bridge Collapse in Washington Cripples Highway Near Seattle

A section of a major interstate highway bridge in Washington state collapsed yesterday, sending two vehicles into the rushing waters of the Skagit River north of Seattle. Three people were rescued and no one is believed to have died, authorities …

Sharkproof part 3 – Influence

                             Shark Proof The three I’s in Shark proofing are Insulation –Investment – Influence In the first two installments, we covered Insulation & Investment. Today I finish the series with Influence. As you remember, a ” Shark”  is what I …

National Group Praises Hawaii Cellphone Driving Law

A national nonprofit is cheering Hawaii’s new law that prohibits people from holding cellphones and other portable electronics while driving. Jonathan Adkins from the Governors Highway Safety Association in Washington says Hawaii’s law is tougher than laws in most other …

Feds Take Over California High-Risk Insurance Program

About 17,000 Californians with serious medical problems will be moved from a state-run stopgap health insurance program to a federal plan starting in July, ensuring they will have no break in medical coverage until the national health care reforms kick …

New Mexico Setting New Records With Drought

New Mexico is slipping further into drought, having marked the driest two-year period in nearly 120 years of record-keeping. National weather forecasters and water managers shared the latest statistics on New Mexico’s devastatingly dry conditions during a meeting Tuesday. They …

Ex-Alaska Worker Charged With Workers’ Comp Fraud

A former Alaska state employee and his supposed masseuse are accused of worker’s compensation fraud. Scott A. Groom and Laurayne K. Fischer are charged with 93 counts including perjury, theft and falsification of business records. The two are currently living …

London Underwriter Becomes First to Insure California Carbon Credits

Parhelion Underwriting Ltd. became the first insurer to offer a policy to protect companies from the invalidation of carbon offset credits sold as part of California’s cap-and-trade program. Parhelion, based in London, will sell insurance for permits originally issued by …

West News Archives by Month