Latest USA Headlines
All the headlines from our USA Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Agency Investigating Plant Blast Finds Lax Chemical Regulation
Jun 28 2013 // A federal agency investigating a deadly explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant will tell a Senate committee that regulation of the dangerous chemicals used in the industry fall under a “patchwork” of standards...
U.S. Suspends Trade Benefits for Bangladesh Over Workplace Safety
Jun 28 2013 // President Barack Obama on Thursday cut off longtime U.S. trade benefits for Bangladesh in a mostly symbolic response to dangerous conditions in that country’s garment industry that have cost more than 1,200 lives in...
P/C Insurers Question Need for Insurance Accounting Overhaul
Jun 28 2013 // The biggest overhaul of insurance accounting in 30 years advanced a step on Thursday with the release of a proposal that some insurers fear could make their profits more volatile. In a move to align financial statements...
Court Grants Scientific Article Authors, Publishers Broad Protection
Jun 28 2013 // Authors and publishers of controversial scientific articles, and the companies sponsoring those articles, won broad free speech protection from a U.S. appeals court on Wednesday. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in...
Greenberg’s $25B Suit Against Government Over AIG Bailout Can Proceed
Jun 27 2013 // Maurice “Hank” Greenberg can continue his $25 billion lawsuit against the U.S. over losses from the bailout of his former company, American International Group Inc., without making claims on behalf of the...
Global Banks Will Screen for Terrorism Links Under Basel Plan
Jun 27 2013 // Global banks will have to vet all customers for terrorism links as part of a crackdown on money laundering and criminal finance. Terrorist screening “should be carried out irrespective of the risk profile attributed...
Wal-Mart, Gap, Other U.S. Brands Ready $50M Bangladesh Safety Fund: WSJ
Jun 27 2013 // Gap Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. are among U.S. retailers finalizing an agreement to establish a $50 million, five-year fund to improve safety conditions in Bangladesh garment factories, the Wall Street Journal reported,...
Gay Marriage Ruling Boosts Benefits for Many, Leaves Confusion in Some States
Jun 27 2013 // A U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Wednesday forcing the federal government to recognize same-sex marriage in states where it is legal will open up new benefits to thousands of gay couples, but confusion may reign in states...
Illinois Man Sentenced for Multi-State Auto Theft Scheme
Jun 27 2013 // A Madison, Ill., man faced jail time after being convicted in for an auto theft scheme that spanned Illinois and Missouri, according to federal officials. The United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois,...
Trade Panel Action Could Thwart ‘Patent Trolls’
Jun 26 2013 // A U.S. trade panel that deals with patent infringement cases took a step on Monday that could rein in companies, often known as patent trolls, accused of embarking on frivolous litigation. The International Trade...
Ratings Roundup: AEGIS, SOGAZ, African Re, Delvag
Jun 26 2013 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Bermuda-based Associated Electric & Gas Insurance Services Limited (AEGIS), and...
Colleges Could Face Lawsuits Following Supreme Court Affirmative Action Ruling
Jun 26 2013 // The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action may force universities to re-examine their admissions policies and face waves of litigation about race- based admission. In a 7-1 ruling yesterday, the justices...
Goss Named VP of HealthcarePros Unit at U.S. Risk Underwriters
Jun 25 2013 // Dallas-based managing general agency and surplus lines wholesaler, U.S. Risk Insurance Group Inc., has named Quinton Goss, vice president for HealthcarePros, the healthcare division of U.S. Risk Underwriters. The division...
Insurers Abandon Long Island After Superstorm, N.Y. Senator Schumer Says
Jun 25 2013 // Allstate Corp. is among insurers retreating from the Long Island, New York, homeowners market after superstorm Sandy and should be compelled to offer coverage there, New York Senator Charles Schumer said. Liberty Mutual...
Alberta Promises US$956 Million in Flood Funding; Won’t Balance Budget
Jun 25 2013 // Alberta Premier Alison Redford on Monday promised C$1 billion (US$956 million) in initial funding to help pay for damage caused by major flooding this past weekend, and said the oil-rich province would no longer be able to...
P/C Insurers Turned Profit on Underwriting in Q1, Attained Record Surplus
Jun 24 2013 // First quarter results for U.S. property/casualty insurers show they made a profit on underwriting for the first time since late 2009. Private U.S. property/casualty insurers’ net income after taxes rose to $14.4...
Supreme Court Upholds Immunity for Army Corps; Rejects Katrina Victims’ Claims
Jun 24 2013 // The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal from Hurricane Katrina victims seeking billions of dollars on claims that the Army Corps of Engineers added to the storm’s impact by improperly maintaining a shipping...
Federal Judge Criticizes But Upholds Mississippi Damages Cap
Jun 24 2013 // A federal judge has upheld Mississippi’s cap of $500,000 on non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases. The ruling came in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of a woman and her unborn baby who died...
U.S. May Fall Back on Old Farm Law If No Agreement
Jun 23 2013 // The U.S. Congress is headed for a second stop-gap extension of current farm law if Republican leaders in the House of Representatives cannot get new legislation back on track after a stunning defeat. Farm lobbyists and...
Plaintiffs: BP Acted With Gross Negligence in 2010 Spill
Jun 23 2013 // BP Plc and its contractors should be found grossly negligent for their actions in the April 2010 blowout of the Macondo well and the subsequent Gulf of Mexico oil spill, plaintiffs’ lawyers told a judge. U.S....
