Monthly Archives: <span>January 2025</span>

Growth of Pet Insurance Continues as Market Could Reach $4.5B

Any pet owner who has been hit by sticker shock at the vet’s office understands why pet insurance is a booming business. Pet health insurance purchases have been up over the last several years, dramatically expanding premiums for the inland …

US Economic Losses From Natural Disasters Soared in 2024

Economic losses from hurricanes and other natural disasters soared in the U.S. last year and were above average globally, reflecting another year of costly severe storms, floods and droughts. Damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton helped push total economic …

Mississippi House Bill Puts New Rules on PBMs, But May Do Little for Workers’ Comp

A pharmacy benefits manager bill passed by the Mississippi House of Representatives last week may have little impact on drug costs in the state’s workers’ compensation system, even if that is part of the bill’s intent. “The problem is, drug …

Avian Flu Could Shutter Long Island’s Last Duck Farm

New York’s Long Island was once synonymous with “duck” in the culinary world. Now it may lose its last commercial farm. The avian flu outbreak that has led to the slaughter of millions of birds at U.S. poultry farms and …

People Moves: Brooks Insurance Adds Garabedian as Underwriting SVP

Brooks Insurance hired Tiffani Ann Garabedian as senior vice president of underwriting. Garabedian is based in Los Angeles. Garabedian has nearly 20 years of insurance industry experience, most recently serving as a territory manager with Nationwide for the Northeast region. …

Family of Wrongfully Imprisoned Disabled Man to Receive $5.9 Million

More than four years after his death, Richard Lapointe’s family is set to receive a nearly $5.9 million award from Connecticut for his wrongful, quarter-century imprisonment that ended in 2015 when his murder conviction was overturned in the rape and …

Climate Change Made LA 35% More Primed to Burn, Scientists Say

Climate change made Southern California’s dangerous wildfire conditions in early January 35% more likely than they would have been before the industrial era, according to a new analysis by the scientific group World Weather Attribution. Greenhouse gas pollution raised temperatures, …

Washington Man on Workers’ Comp for 3 Years Caught on Video Carrying 48lb Table

A Pierce County, Washington, man has been ordered to pay back more than $60,000 to Washington’s workers’ compensation fund after videos reportedly showed he was working and carrying heavy objects in the years he was allegedly unable to work from …

Maine High Court Invalidates Law Erasing Time Limit on Child Sex Abuse Claims

In a 5-2 opinion, the Maine Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional a 2021 state law that eliminated the statute of limitations for claims of sexual abuse of minors. The ruling is a victory for the Roman Catholic Church of Portland …

Earthquake in Maine Rattles Houses, Nerves Across Northeast

A 3.8-magnitude earthquake centered near the southern Maine coast rattled houses in northern New England on Monday and was felt by surprised residents of states hundreds of miles away. The earthquake took place at about 10:22 a.m. on Monday and …