Latest Texas Headlines
All the headlines from our Texas Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Retreat as an Answer to Climate Change?
Aug 22 2019 // Think retreat is never an option? Think again. “Faced with global warming, rising sea levels, and the climate-related extremes they intensify, the question is no longer whether some communities will retreat—moving...
Ransomware Attack Strikes 20 Texas Local Governments
Aug 22 2019 // More than 20 local governments in Texas were targeted in a coordinated ransomware attack of unprecedented size. The Texas Department of Information Resources said in a statement that it believes a single source is behind...
Texas A&M Forest Service Activates Airtanker Base to Help Combat Wildfires
Aug 21 2019 // In response to rising wildfire activity across the state, the Texas A&M Forest Service is opening the Austin Airtanker Base at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Significant fire activity has increased recently,...
Texas Auto Burglary/Theft Prevention Fee Rises
Aug 19 2019 // The Texas Department of Insurance says recently passed legislation raises the fee insurers must pay to the state organization that works to prevent automobile burglaries and thefts. A new law also changes Automobile...
States Brace for Long-Term Flood Fight as Damages Mount
Aug 19 2019 // After devastating flooding this year, Iowa put $15 million into a special fund to help local governments recover and guard against future floods. Missouri allotted more money to fight rising waters, including $2 million to...
Texas Windstorm Insurer Not Filing Rate Hike for 2020
Aug 19 2019 // Texas’ provider of last resort for wind and hail insurance for coastal properties won’t be raising its residential and commercial property rates next year. The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) said...
In Review of Hail Claims Cases, Texas High Court Clarifies Bad Faith in Appraisal Process
Aug 19 2019 // An insurer’s payment of the appraisal value after disputing a claim does not establish that it was liable, nor does that payment prevent a policyholder from pursuing penalties under the Prompt Payment of Claims Act,...
In Texas, Higginbotham and Exploration Insurance Group Merge
Aug 16 2019 // Fort Worth, Texas-based Higginbotham and Exploration Insurance Group (EIG) have merged their operations in Tyler, Texas. EIG opened in 2013 in Tyler to meet the east Texas region’s growing need for industry specific...
Texas Still Tops for Hail Claims
Aug 16 2019 // Texas ranked as the state with most annual hail claims — by a wide margin — over the past three years according, to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). In a media announcement, the NICB said a review of claims...
FEMA Awards $2.7M to Orange County, Texas, for Flood Damage Project
Aug 15 2019 // The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded more than $2.7 million to Orange County through the Texas Division of Emergency Management to fund a project to acquire and demolish 20 structures impacted by...
Nation’s Excess & Surplus Market Reports 13% Growth Through Midyear
Aug 14 2019 // Source: Texas Surplus Lines Stamping Office The nation’s excess and surplus lines insurance industry is growing almost 13 percent faster halfway through this year than it did last year at this time. Mid-year premium...
Priority One Compliance in Texas Approved for Trucking Insurance Continuing Ed
Aug 14 2019 // Priority One Compliance Services LLC, based in Diana, Texas, announced it has been approved as a training provider for transportation insurance-related continuing education in several U.S. states. Priority One Compliance...
Texas’ Tricolor Launches Auto Insurance Option for Low Income Consumers
Aug 13 2019 // Tricolor, a Dallas-based used vehicle retailer focusing on the sale and financing of vehicles to the Hispanic consumer, is now offering affordable auto insurance option for low-income and credit invisible customers through...
The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research Launches High School Program
Aug 8 2019 // Austin, TX, August 8, 2019 – The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research announces the creation of a high school program for students interested in attaining an insurance certification. The Certified...
New Texas Law Aims to Crack Down on Roof Repair Scams
Aug 8 2019 // A new law in Texas that goes into effect on Sept. 1 makes it clear that it’s illegal for a contractor or roofer to waive an insurance deductible, according to the state insurance department. “This new law will...
Low Unemployment Rates a Problem for San Antonio Hotels
Aug 7 2019 // With San Antonio’s unemployment rate hitting historic lows, hoteliers in the city’s $15.2 billion tourism industry are struggling to find housekeepers, dishwashers and waiters. The San Antonio Express-News...
Texas Windstorm Insurer: No Rate Hike for 2020
Aug 6 2019 // Texas’ provider of last resort for wind and hail insurance for Texas coastal properties won’t be raising its residential and commercial property rates next year. The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA)...
Next Level Acquires North Texas Employee Benefits Provider, A&H Benefits
Aug 6 2019 // Next Level Insurance Agency, a Dallas-based healthcare consulting and employee benefits brokerage firm, has acquired A&H Benefits, also based in North Texas. A&H was formed in 1997 as a corporation to provide...
Texas Considering $600M in Upgrades to Prevent Highway Deaths
Aug 6 2019 // State transportation officials are considering a plan that would earmark $390 million to help reduce highway deaths by straightening roads, improving lighting and adding guardrails. On May 30, the Texas Transportation...
Walmart Has Mandatory Active Shooter Training for Employees
Aug 5 2019 // Days before Saturday’s mass shooting that killed 20 people at a Walmart Inc. store in El Paso, Texas, another shooting erupted at a Walmart in Southaven, Mississippi. In that case, Walmart’s mandatory...
