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How Agents Feel About Their Compensation from Carriers… and Other Matters

On a first quarter results call W.R. Berkley Corp. President and CEO Robert Berkley cited a growing and alarming level of tension between carriers and distributors, driven by what he called a fight to grow margins in the face of …

Hospital That Treated Florida Toddler Who Swallowed Battery Sued by Family

A Florida family sued a hospital for malpractice on Wednesday, saying their baby suffered severe burns because it took too long to remove a coin-sized battery that she swallowed. Parents Cole Parsons and Courtney Thorne said in a lawsuit that …

Injury Crashes Involving Texting, Driving Decrease in Oklahoma

Oklahoma has seen a significant decrease in injury traffic accidents involving drivers distracted by an electronic device since a law banning texting and driving went into effect last year. Data from the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office show that injury crashes …

Indiana Slow to Address Expired Rules Drafted after Stage Collapse

Emergency rules drafted following the deadly 2011 Indiana State Fair stage collapse expired nearly a year ago and state regulators have not yet drafted a permanent rule intended to prevent such a disaster from happening again. The rules that established …

Report: Operator Error Caused 2015 Wisconsin Train Derailment

Federal investigators said crew fatigue may have contributed to the derailment of a BNSF freight train that spilled more than 20,000 gallons of ethanol last year in western Wisconsin. The engineer and the conductor scored poorly on the Federal Railroad …

Trump vs. California Climate Battle Brewing

California vs. Trump, so to speak, is shaping up to be a heavyweight match. On one side is the world’s sixth (or so) largest economy – home to Disneyland, Hollywood and Big Sur. On the other is the reality show …

Robberies Surge in 2016, Ending Downward Trend in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa experienced a surge of robberies in 2016, ending a five-year downward trend. Tulsa Police Department data showed that over 1,000 robberies were reported from the start of January through November, already 19 percent more than last year’s total of …

2 Hurt in Explosion at Northern Oklahoma Manufacturing Plant

Authorities say two workers were injured after an explosion and fire at a manufacturing plant in northern Oklahoma. The fire broke out Tuesday afternoon at the ICES Corporation plant in Cleveland, about 80 miles northeast of Oklahoma City. Cleveland Fire …

Historic Flooding Prompts Uptick in Flood Policies in South Louisiana

Four months after devastating flooding ravaged South Louisiana, nearly 30,000 new flood insurance policies have been written in the affected areas, the Louisiana Department of Insurance announced. As of July 30, the total number of National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) …

California DIR Releases Overview of Upcoming New Laws

The California Department of Industrial Relations has released its 2016 Legislative Digest, which summarizes new laws that impact workers and employers. Most of the chaptered bills are slated to take effect on Jan. 1, 2017. Highlights those new laws include: …

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