East News

Maryland Wildfire Damage Less Extensive in 2024 Despite Severe Fall Fire Weather

The number of wildfires in Maryland during 2024 was much higher than the ten-year average, but acreage burned was significantly lower. In Maryland, 165 fires burned 953.4 acres during 2024, compared to 199 wildfires in 2023 that burned approximately 4,483 …

Birth Injury Compensation Fund Executive Gets 9 Years for Embezzling $6.7 Million

A Providence Forge, Virginia man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for embezzling funds from his former employer, the Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program. According to court documents, John Hunter Raines was the chief financial officer and …

People Moves: Arbella Insurance Appoints Brady as Next CEO as Donohue Retires

Arbella Insurance Group, headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts, named Executive Vice President and Head of Claim Paul Brady as CEO, effective June 1. Brady has been with Arbella for nearly 15 years, holding numerous leadership positions, including chief information officer and …

Judge Allows Lobster Fishermen to Sue Environmental Group for Defamation

A group of lobster fishermen can sue one of the world’s largest seafood watchdog groups for defamation, a federal court has ruled, over a report that described Maine lobster as an unwise choice for consumers. The threat to a rare …

Aon’s NFP Acquires Lyons Insurance in Delaware

Property/casualty middle-market insurance broker NFP, an Aon company, recently announced its acquisition of Lyons Insurance Agency, Inc., a multiline insurance broker located in Wilmington, Delaware. David Lyons and Tim Lyons, vice presidents of Lyons, will join NFP as senior vice …

Frito-Lay Employee’s Injury in Hoops Tourney Ruled Out of Bounds for Workers Comp

A forklift driver for Frito-Lay who injured his achilles tendon playing in a company basketball game is not covered by workers compensation. The Virginia Workers Compensation Commission (VWCC) upheld the denial of benefits because the employee’s voluntary participation in the …

AM Best Downgrades Vermont Mutual to ‘A’ Rating; Cites Improvements in 2024 Results

AM Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating to A (Excellent) from A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings to “a+” (Excellent) from “aa-” (Superior) of Vermont Mutual Insurance Co. and its fully reinsured subsidiaries, Northern Security Insurance Co., …

King Risk Partners Acquires Rhode Island’s Insurance Center

Fast-growing insurance broker King Risk Partners has acquired The Insurance Center, an independent insurance agency in Warwick, Rhode Island. Terms were not disclosed. Founded in 1973, The Insurance Center serves individuals, families, and businesses in Warwick and throughout Rhode Island, …

Airlines Want Less Helicopter Traffic Near Washington Airport

A group representing U.S. airlines plans to urge federal aviation officials to permanently reduce helicopter traffic around Reagan National Airport outside Washington, D.C., following a January collision by an Army Black Hawk into an American Airlines regional jet that killed …

New England Waters Warming More Slowly But Temps Remain High

SCARBOROUGH, Maine (AP) — The waters off New England had another warm year but didn’t heat up as fast as earlier this decade, bucking a trend of higher warming worldwide, said scientists who study the Atlantic Ocean near Maine. The …

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