East News

Officials Say Explosion Caused $200K in Damage to Maryland Home

A propane gas explosion caused about $200,000 in damage to western Maryland home, but a woman who was home at the time wasn’t hurt, fire investigators said. The explosion occurred in the basement furnace room of the two-story Smithsburg home …

People Moves: New Hires at RT Specialty, Alliant

RT Specialty Names Neary to Environmental and Construction Professional Practice RT Specialty named Rachael Neary as an account administrator in its environmental and construction professional practice (RT ECP). In this role, she will work with senior management to further the …

New York Voters Approve Right to a Clean Environment

New Yorkers have approved a ballot measure adding the right to a clean environment to the state constitution. The measure was one of five statewide ballot questions before New York voters Tuesday. Supporters say enshrining a constitutional right to clean …

AM Best Revises Outlooks to Stable for Quincy Mutual Group Members

AM Best has revised the outlooks to stable from negative and affirmed the financial strength rating of A+ (superior) and the long-term issuer credit ratings of “aa-” (superior) for the members of Quincy Mutual Group. The group includes the lead …

Smith Brothers Insurance Acquires Massachusetts’ Oxford Insurance Agency

Smith Brothers Insurance, based in Glastonbury, Connecticut, has acquired Oxford Insurance Agency, an independent insurance agency in Oxford, Massachusetts. The transaction is effective November 1, 2021. The acquisition expands Smith Brothers Insurance’s footprint in Massachusetts and allows Oxford Insurance to …

Massachusetts Construction Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax, Workers’ Comp Fraud

The owner of a now-defunct Peabody, Massachusetts, construction company pleaded guilty in connection with a scheme to defraud the IRS of payroll taxes and to defraud his workers’ compensation insurance carrier by failing to disclose how many workers he employed. …

Massachusetts Man Sentenced for Cheating Chicken Products Suppliers

A Massachusetts man who pleaded guilty to defrauding Texas chicken products companies out of $630,000 through a fake invoice scheme has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison, prosecutors said. Yannick Minang, 27, of Hingham was sentenced …

Investigators Seek Help After Three Fires Set in Maryland

Fire investigators in Maryland are asking the public for help figuring out who set three fires over the weekend at a mobile home park on the Eastern Shore. A news release from the Maryland State Fire Marshal says the fires …

Insurer to Pay $625K to Settle Deceptive Practices Claims in Massachusetts

An insurance company has agreed to pay $625,000 to settle allegations that it used deceptive and illegal practices to sell health insurance plans to Massachusetts residents, the state attorney general’s office said Monday. Under terms of the settlement, Florida-based Health …

New York DFS Announces New Climate Change Division, Appoints Dr. Chen to Lead

In its latest move to address the effects of climate change, the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) announced a new climate risk division and appointed Dr. Nina Chen as its executive deputy superintendent. Dr. Chen, DFS’ inaugural director …

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