Yearly Archives: <span>2021</span>

Legislation Aims to Strengthen North Dakota Seat Belt Law

A bipartisan group of lawmakers want to tighten North Dakota’s seat belt law to allow police to pull over anyone they see driving unbuckled — or any of their passengers. It’s the latest and the most stringent in a decades-old …

Clifford to Lead Risk Placement Services’ Workers’ Comp Programs in Michigan

Risk Placement Services (RPS), the E&S wholesale broker, managing general agency and program administrator, has appointed Joe Clifford to lead its self-insured workers’ compensation programs in Michigan within its RPS Signature Programs division. Clifford succeeds Tim Hanna, who has retired …

Hillebrandt Named Principal at Illinois’ Pinnacle Actuarial Resources

Pinnacle Actuarial Resources Inc. (Pinnacle), a Bloomington, Ill.-based actuarial consulting firm, has named Aaron Hillebrandt a principal and consulting actuary. Hillebrandt is one of the firm’s leaders in the captive industry and alternative markets. He serves as appointed actuary for …

World Insurance Associates Acquires Two Rivers Insurance in Iowa

World Insurance Associates LLC (WIA) has acquired Two Rivers Insurance Company Inc. (TRIC) of Burlington, Iowa. TRIC includes Two Rivers Insurance Services (TRIS) and Employee Benefits Systems (EBS). Terms of the Dec. 31, 2020, transaction were not disclosed. TRIC will …

Crest Insurance Group Acquires Gates in Arizona

Crest Insurance Group LLC of Tucson Arizona has acquired Gates Insurance Inc. President Michael Gates and his staff have been serving clients out of their home office in Mesa, Ariz., since 2009. Gates is a full-service property/casualty firm specializing in …

High Street Acquires Partners Premier in Oregon

Private equity firm Huron Capital announced today that its insurance brokerage platform, High Street Insurance Partners, has acquired Premier Northwest Insurance in Oregon City, Ore. The firm has also acquired Day, Deadrick & Marshall Inc. in Beltsville, Md. Premier NW …

Tornado in Houston Suburb Damages Apartment Complex, Displaces 100s

A tornado swept through a portion of a city in suburban Houston, displacing about 500 people from a damaged apartment complex, officials said on Jan. 7. A strong storm swept through Texas City around 6 p.m. on Jan. 6, causing …

Kentucky Lawmakers Pass Bills Limiting Gov’s Authority on Pandemic Restrictions

In a stinging rebuke of the Democratic governor’s response to COVID-19, Republican lawmakers on Saturday gave final passage to bills limiting his emergency powers to impose restrictions meant to contain the coronavirus. After months of fuming from the sidelines as …

Aspiring Rapper Admits to Starting Fires at South Carolina Governor’s Rental Homes

An aspiring rapper who performed under the name “Dank Frank” won’t spend any more time in jail for burning down two rental houses owned by South Carolina’s governor. Frank Wilberding, 23, was sentenced Wednesday to the more than 600 days …

McGriff Names Dessauer in Houston as West Region Leader

McGriff has promoted Patrick Dessauer to regional insurance president for McGriff’s West Region. He will be based in McGriff’s Houston office. Dessauer replaces Doug Hodo who has announced his retirement. Dessauer, a 30-plus year veteran of the insurance brokerage industry, …