Latest Texas Headlines

Call to Texas Arson Hotline Nails Juveniles

Dec 12 2006 // A call into the Texas Arson Hotline resulted in four juveniles being cited for criminal mischief in Marfa, the Texas Advisory Council on Arson reported. The four allegedly participated in setting a bag of trash on fire on...

New Markets

Dec 11 2006 // Coastal Property — Texas Nuts & Bolts: Western Security Surplus has increased capacity to write coastal property coverage in Texas, including wind and hail, Tier 1 and 2 counties. The property coverage is...

People and Places

Dec 11 2006 // The Texas Surplus Lines Association Inc. announced the election of the following officers and directors: President Len Kaplan, executive vice president and CFO, Delta General Agency, Houston; Vice President Lana Parks,...

Texas commissioner approves TWIA rate hike

Dec 11 2006 // Although not as substantial as those sought by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Associa-tion, Texas Insurance Commis-sioner Mike Geeslin signed an order on Nov. 15 giving TWIA rate hikes of 3.7 percent for commercial property...

Zurich agrees to terms to close multi-state bid-rigging probe

Dec 11 2006 // In separate but related move, N.Y., Conn., Ill. tell four insurers contingent commissions no longer an option Ten states, led by Texas and its Attorney General Greg Abbott, have come to terms with Zurich American, closing...

News Currents

Dec 10 2006 // Texas commissioner approves TWIA rate hike Although not as substantial as those sought by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Associa-tion, Texas Insurance Commis-sioner Mike Geeslin signed an order on Nov. 15 giving TWIA rate...

Dec 10 2006 // People The Texas Surplus Lines Association Inc. announced the election of the following officers and directors: President Len Kaplan, executive vice president and CFO, Delta General Agency, Houston; Vice President Lana...

8 Texas commissioner allows windstorm rate hike

Dec 10 2006 // Although welcome, some think it’s not enough 9 Louisiana’s special session Despite protests, governor calls for 10-day session 10 Judge says water may be covered in New Orleans canal case Ambiguities in...

New Markets

Dec 10 2006 // Coastal Property – Texas Nuts & Bolts: Western Security Surplus has increased capacity to write coastal property coverage in Texas, including wind and hail, Tier 1 and 2 counties. The property coverage is...

Zurich agrees to terms to close multi-state bid-rigging probe

Dec 10 2006 // News Currents Ten states, led by Texas and its Attorney General Greg Abbott, have come to terms with Zurich American, closing their probe into the insurer’s involvement in alleged bid-rigging and unfair compensation...

Hartwig to Speak in Austin at Insurer Group’s Public Policy Forum

Dec 7 2006 // Dr. Robert Hartwig, president-elect and chief economist for the Insurance Information Institute is scheduled to speak in January at a public policy forum hosted by Southwestern Insurance Information Service. SIIS announced...

Higginbotham-Austin Adds Benefits Broker

Dec 6 2006 // Higginbotham & Associates announced it has added Account Executive Cynthia Brown to its Austin, Texas, office to provide commercial clients with employee benefit plan brokerage and account support. Brown, who is...

Caudill Joins Colemont’s Texas Operations

Dec 6 2006 // Colemont Insurance Brokers-Texas announced the recent addition of Larry Caudill as the company’s marketing manager. Caudill will work to strengthen existing agent partnerships and foster new business...

Hubacek Named Member Services Ambassador for IIAT

Dec 5 2006 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas has appointed P. Scott Hubacek to the newly created position of IIAT Member Services Ambassador. Hubacek will be responsible for recruiting new members and for helping new and...

Zurich Agrees to Terms to Close Multi-State Bid-Rigging Probe

Dec 4 2006 // Ten states, led by Texas and its Attorney General Greg Abbott, have come to terms with Zurich American, closing their probe into the insurer’s involvement in alleged bid-rigging and unfair compensation practices in...

Texas Agents’ Group Says Personal Lines Market is Competitive

Dec 4 2006 // With the exception of coastal areas, the outlook for auto and homeowners coverage is positive in Texas, according to a study conducted by the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas. The IIAT Personal Lines Market Survey...

Texas Hospital Insurance Exchange Lowers Rates for Hospital Subscribers

Dec 1 2006 // The Texas Hospital Insurance Exchange, an Austin-based reciprocal insurance company, has announced an average 16 percent rate cut for its hospital liability subscribers, effective Dec. 1. Current THIE subscribers will...

Texas Seeks Comments on Financial Responsibility Program User Guide

Nov 29 2006 // The Texas Department of Insurance has issued a request for comments on the Financial Responsibility Program User Guide being developed as part of the implementation of the state’s auto insurance verification...

Texas Workers’ Comp Conference to Focus on System Changes

Nov 28 2006 // The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) will present a two-day educational conference Dec. 4-5, 2006 in Austin. The 2006 DWC Conference will feature presentations by two Texas...

State Farm Contributes $1.5M to Texas Vehicle Registration Initiative

Nov 27 2006 // State Farm and the State Farm Agents of Texas are contributing $1.5 million through in-kind services to support “Put Texas in your corner,” the Texas Department of Transportation’s initiative to remind...