West News

PG&E Power Line Blamed for Sparking Small California Wildfire

A downed Pacific Gas & Electric power line is blamed for sparking a wildfire in eastern Monterey County, Calif. this week. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says the 2,456-acre blaze that erupted east of King City was …

E-Scooter Program Coming to Utah City This Summer

Provo Mayor Michelle Kafusi has announced 200 electric scooters are coming to the Utah city this August. Kafusi tweeted this week that the city has launched a pilot program with bike sharing program Zagster to bring 200 dockless Spin scooters …

Cavignac & Associates in California Names French Employee Benefits Account Administrator

San Diego, Calif.-based Cavignac & Associates has added Denise French to its employee benefits team as an account administrator for special projects. French serves as the primary customer service person for enrolled members. She has five years of experience in …

Complacency Cited in Fatal 2017 Washington Train Crash

The vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board in the final report on a deadly Amtrak derailment in Washington in 2017 blasted what he described as a “Titanic-like complacency” among those charged with ensuring train operations were safe. The …

Former Washington Agent Pleads Guilty to Writing Fake Auto Policies

Lilibeth Brulotte, a former Washington insurance agent, pleaded guilty in Pierce County Superior Court to third-degree theft in connection with writing fake auto insurance policies. Brulotte’s sentence was deferred for two years and will be dismissed if she commits no …

California Workers’ Comp Bureau Submits 2020 Regulatory Filing

The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California on Wednesday submitted a Jan. 1, 2020, regulatory filing to the California Insurance Commissioner. The filing contains the following proposals: Amendments to the California Workers’ Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan—1995, including amendments …

Third Point Makes Equity Investment in California-based Noblr

Third Point Reinsurance Ltd. has entered into a relationship with Noblr Inc. through a combination of a minority equity investment and reinsurance, the company announced. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. San Francisco, Calif.-based Noblr is a technology-driven company co-founded …

Washington State Utility Caused Fatal Fire, Lawsuit Contends

The family of a Washington man who died in a house fire has filed a lawsuit against a public utility. The Everett Herald reported that the family of 93-year-old Glen Allen filed the wrongful death lawsuit against the Snohomish County …

Jump in Western U.S. Wildfires Means Smoke’s Health Impact Will Spread

Climate change in the Western U.S. means more intense and frequent wildfires churning out waves of smoke that scientists say will affect tens of millions of people and cause premature deaths to spike. That’s prompting people in cities and rural …

Bondholders Propose Bankruptcy Exit Plan Up to $30B for PG&E

A committee of bondholders of PG&E Corp.’s utility unit on Tuesday proposed a bankruptcy reorganization plan that would inject up to $30 billion to help the California power provider emerge from Chapter 11 and pay off its liability from wildfires. …

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