Apple, Amazon Push Back on Stricter Emissions Reporting Rules
A coalition of more than 60 corporations, including Apple, Amazon, General Motors and Patagonia, has asked the Greenhouse Gas Protocol to make its proposed Scope 2 emissions reporting revisions optional rather than mandatory. The draft changes would require companies to match renewable energy certificates to their electricity use on an hourly, location‑specific basis, a shift from the current annual matching practice. Proponents argue the tighter rules would reduce greenwashing, but signatories warn the added granularity could impede renewable power purchase agreements, raise electricity costs, and slow clean‑energy investment. The GHG Protocol, which has not updated Scope 2 guidance in over a decade, says it will balance technical rigor with practical feasibility.
Viewpoint: Middle Market Businesses Are Cutting Costs – But May Be Increasing Risks
Middle‑market companies remain optimistic—75% view conditions positively—but face persistent cost pressures from inflation, high rates and supply‑chain issues. Despite these headwinds, 80% are hiring or plan to add staff, while expanding responsibilities for existing employees. At the same time, many...
People Moves: Goldie to Oversee Nationwide’s Management Liability, Cyber Teams; Former FIO & NAIC Exec. Joins The Council; Smallcombe Appointed...
Nationwide announced that insurance veteran Bobbie Goldie will oversee its private‑company management liability and cyber liability teams starting May 4, reporting to senior VP Tom Iorio. Goldie brings more than 25 years of experience in cyber risk and underwriting, most recently...
California Wildfire Risk Bills Cruising Through Legislature
Two bipartisan California Senate bills targeting wildfire risk moved swiftly through committees. SB 894 creates a low‑interest loan program to help homeowners and small businesses fund home hardening and defensible‑space projects. SB 1297 sets up regional public‑private partnerships linking insurers,...
EY and IIF: Four in Five CROs Rank Cyber Among Top Risks
A new EY‑IIF survey shows 80% of insurance chief risk officers now rank cyber among their top five risks, a 14‑point jump from last year. Cyber risk outranked strategic, regulatory, third‑party and geopolitical concerns, with data privacy, phishing and vendor...
Newell Succeeds Founder Eknoian as World Insurance CEO
World Insurance Associates announced John Newell as its new chief executive officer, succeeding founder Rich Eknoian. Newell joins from Newfront, where he oversaw AI‑driven expansion across insurance, benefits, and retirement services. At Marsh, he managed a $500 million business with 2,000...
Alabama Governor Signs New Captive Law That Could Help End DOI Moratorium
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed House Bill 415, a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s captive insurance framework. The law raises the minimum capital for pure captives to $250,000 and sets a $1 million floor for risk‑retention groups, while granting the insurance...
Texas Speaker Seeks to Investigate Roblox Over Game Simulating Uvalde Shooting
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows announced a formal probe of Roblox after learning the platform hosts a game that recreates the 2022 Uvalde school shooting. The investigation will examine Roblox's content‑moderation practices, age‑verification mechanisms, and potential civil or criminal liability...
Gem State Insurance to Merge With Ohio Mutual
Ohio Mutual Insurance Group announced an agreement to merge Idaho‑based Gem State Insurance as a subsidiary, integrating it into Ohio Mutual’s mutual holding company structure. The deal awaits approval from Gem State policyholders and regulators in Idaho and Ohio, with...
Family Sues Kansas Jail Over Inmate’s Death
Relatives of Charles Adair have filed a federal wrongful‑death lawsuit after a Wyandotte County deputy pressed his knee into the inmate’s back for 86 seconds while he was handcuffed and medically vulnerable. The suit names the county sheriff, the unified...
People Moves: IMA Names Caceres as SVP, National Energy Property Leader
IMA announced Al Caceres as Senior Vice President, National Energy Property Leader, tasked with shaping strategy and execution for its energy‑property insurance business across the United States. Caceres brings more than two decades of underwriting and brokerage experience in upstream,...
Markets/Coverages: Cowbell Launches Cyber Product for AI, Quantum Risks
Cowbell has introduced Prime One, a non‑admitted cyber insurance product aimed at U.S. firms with revenues between $250 million and $1 billion. The policy provides up to $10 million in limits and uniquely covers AI‑related incidents and emerging quantum‑computing threats. Core coverages span...
MS Amlin Launches Lloyd’s Sub-Syndicate, Supporting Brokers With New Capacity
MS Amlin, a Lloyd’s specialist reinsurer, has launched a new sub‑syndicate, s1673, to capture innovative growth opportunities and provide brokers with additional capacity. The sub‑syndicate will support the recently created Portfolio Solutions team, channeling underwriting from MS&AD’s global network and...
NIPR Warns Agents of Email Phishing Attempts
The National Insurance Producers Registry (NIPR) has alerted insurance agents to an active phishing campaign that mimics official communications from NIPR, the NAIC and related entities. The fraudulent emails reference past‑due invoices and use spoofed sender addresses such as @nipr.com,...
Pemex Undersea Pipeline Found to Cause Gulf Oil Spill
Pemex confirmed that a leaky undersea pipeline near its Abkatun offshore platform caused a Gulf of Mexico oil spill that reached from Tabasco to Tamaulipas. Environmental groups estimate up to 800 tons of hydrocarbons were released, prompting public outrage and...
SEC’s Power to Recoup Illicit Profits Challenged at Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing a challenge to the SEC’s disgorgement authority, a tool the agency used to collect more than $11 billion in fiscal 2024. Critics argue the SEC retains billions in undistributed funds, effectively enriching the Treasury, while...
Florida Needs More, Much More Wind Mitigation. Experts at OIR Summit Give Ideas
Florida’s wind‑mitigation grant program has disbursed more than $300 million, yet it reaches too few properties that would yield the greatest loss‑reduction benefits. Experts at the Office of Insurance Regulation’s summit warned that the $10,000 matching grant caps fall short of...
India Approves $1.4 Billion Maritime Insurance Pool
India has approved a 129.8‑billion‑rupee ($1.4 billion) guarantee for a new maritime insurance pool that will run for ten years, with a possible five‑year extension. The pool, backed by the government, will cover hull, machinery, cargo and war‑related risks, addressing a...
State Farm Agrees to $15M Settlement for Underpaid Vehicle Claims in Arkansas
State Farm has agreed to a $15.6 million preliminary class settlement for Arkansas policyholders who allege the insurer underpaid total‑loss vehicle claims between November 2016 and October 2021. The dispute centers on State Farm’s use of Audatex appraisal reports that applied a roughly...
Marsh Aims to Be ‘AI Winner’ by Focusing on Gains in Growth, Productivity, Efficiency
Marsh is positioning itself as an AI leader by embedding artificial intelligence across growth, productivity and efficiency initiatives. The insurer‑broker reported Q1 2026 revenue of $7.6 billion, up 8%, while AI‑driven tools have already cut document‑processing time by 20% and accelerated...
People Moves: PIA Arkansas’ Shearon to Retire as Executive Director
Staci Shearon, executive director of the Professional Insurance Agents of Arkansas, announced her retirement effective May 29, 2026, concluding nearly two decades of leadership. During her tenure she bolstered the association’s advocacy, education, and member‑engagement programs, positioning PIA Arkansas as a leading voice...
Midwest States Reel From Severe Storms
Record rainfall and severe thunderstorms hammered the Midwest on April 15, 2026, flooding streets in Milwaukee and prompting Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers to declare a state of emergency. At least three tornadoes touched down, while wind gusts up to 70 mph...
Carnival Cruise Passenger Served 14 Shots Awarded $300,000 After Fall Down Stairs
A federal jury in South Florida awarded Diana Sanders $300,000 after finding Carnival Cruise Line negligent for serving her more than a dozen tequila shots, which led to a fall and a possible traumatic brain injury aboard the Carnival Radiance....
Higginbotham Adds Alabama ‘Powerhouse’ Harmon Dennis Bradshaw Agency
Higginbotham, the Texas‑based employee‑owned brokerage ranked 12th in U.S. property‑casualty revenue, announced the addition of Harmon Dennis Bradshaw Inc., an independent agency operating in Alabama and Georgia. Founded in 1977, HDB brings offices in Birmingham, Montgomery, Troy and Duluth, GA...
Beazley Plans $1B Marine War Consortium for Transiting Strait of Hormuz
Beazley, a specialty Lloyd’s insurer, announced a $1 billion marine war consortium to cover vessels and cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The program splits capacity evenly between hull war and cargo war, each with $500 million, and will be led by...
Europe Looks to Contain Trump’s Fury as It Hosts Hormuz Summit
Europe, led by the UK and France, will host a summit to launch a Maritime Freedom of Navigation Initiative aimed at defending the Strait of Hormuz. The plan, involving about 40 nations and insurance‑industry backing, seeks to clear mines and...
Spain’s Blackout Probe Blames Grid Operator, Government, Watchdog
A Spanish Senate inquiry has placed blame for the April 28, 2025 blackout on the grid operator Red Eléctrica, the Energy Ministry, and the regulator CNMC. The nine‑month probe says the 16‑hour outage across Spain and Portugal stemmed from a known vulnerability and...
Britain May Extend Bans on Gagging Orders That Cover Up Workplace Abuse
Britain's Employment Rights Ministry has opened a 12‑week consultation to consider extending its ban on non‑disclosure agreements that silence workplace abuse to agency workers, freelancers and the self‑employed. The proposal would tighten the conditions under which any NDA is enforceable...
Canadian Insurers Push Owners to Fortify Homes, Urge Carney to Prioritize Climate Risks
Canadian property‑and‑casualty insurers are urging homeowners to flood‑ and fire‑proof their properties as premiums rose about 6% last year and climate‑related claims surged. The sector posted a 57% jump in net income, while 2024 insurance losses reached C$9.4 billion (≈$7 billion). Insurers...
Worsening Ocean Heat Waves Are ‘Supercharging’ Hurricane Damage, Study Finds
A new study of 1,600 tropical cyclones since 1981 shows that marine heat waves—long‑lasting patches of unusually warm ocean water—significantly boost storm intensity. Hurricanes that traverse these heat spikes are far more likely to undergo rapid intensification, leading to a...
Hedge Fund Money Is Reshaping a 180-Year-Old Insurance Model
Alternative investment managers poured record capital into reinsurance, pushing catastrophe‑bond allocations to $136 billion in 2025, an 18% increase. The surge also expanded sidecar vehicles to $18 billion, tripling their size since 2023, while traditional reinsurers’ share of catastrophe losses fell to...
Elon Musk’s xAI Sues Colorado Over State’s New AI Law
Elon Musk’s xAI filed a federal lawsuit to block Colorado’s new AI law, Senate Bill 24‑205, which takes effect June 30. The statute forces developers of “high‑risk” AI systems—used in employment, housing, education, health care and finance—to disclose models and implement...
Florida AG to Investigate ChatGPT After Gunman May Have Used It Before FSU Shooting
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a state investigation into OpenAI’s ChatGPT after evidence suggests the FSU shooter, Phoenix Ikner, used the AI tool repeatedly before the April 2025 attack that killed two and injured six. The probe seeks answers on...
Recent Auto Recalls From Hyundai, GM, Ford, VW Total Over 1 Million Vehicles
In early April 2026, four major U.S. automakers announced recalls that together affect more than one million vehicles. Hyundai Motor America is recalling about 294,000 cars for a seat‑belt anchor defect, while General Motors is pulling 271,770 Chevrolet Malibu sedans...
People Moves: Chubb Names Rampe Global Head of Claims; The Hartford Promotes Burns to Lead Enterprise Sales and Distribution
Chubb has elevated Kevin Rampe to senior vice president and Global Claims Officer, adding worldwide oversight to his existing role as head of North America claims. Rampe, a Chubb veteran since 2005, will report to CEO Evan Greenberg and COO...
NYC Helicopter Crash Prompts Push for New Tourist-Flight Rules
U.S. lawmakers from New York City introduced the Helicopter Safety Parity Act, which would apply commercial airline safety standards to sightseeing helicopters after a 2025 Hudson River crash that killed Siemens Mobility chief Agustín Escobar Canadas, his wife and three...
AM Best Revises Outlooks to Negative for Oswego County Mutual
AM Best has moved the outlook for Oswego County Mutual Insurance Co. from stable to negative, while maintaining its A (Excellent) Financial Strength Rating and “a” (Excellent) Long‑Term Issuer Credit Rating. The New York‑based insurer posted a 2025 operating loss...
Good News for Nonprofits as Liberty Mutual Foundation Launches $600M Endowment
Liberty Mutual Foundation announced a $600 million endowment, establishing a permanent, self‑sustaining funding source that will lift its grantmaking beyond the recent $50 million annual baseline. The insurer is financing the endowment by transferring assets, including corporate shares, into the foundation. The...
People Moves: Insurance Advisory Partners Names Caltavuturo as Partner
Insurance Advisory Partners (IAP) has appointed veteran investment banker Lou Caltavuturo as a U.S. partner. Based in New York, Caltavuturo will lead broker and insurance distribution M&A and capital‑raising efforts, reporting to CEO Tony Ursano. He brings decades of experience,...
Judge Tosses PETA’s Lawsuit Against American Kennel Club Over Dog Breed Health
A New York judge dismissed PETA’s lawsuit accusing the American Kennel Club of endorsing unhealthy breed standards for French bulldogs, bulldogs, pugs, dachshunds and shar‑peis. The court ruled the state’s consumer‑protection law was misapplied because the AKC is a private...
People: The Doctors Company Names Hayes Interim SVP of Claims
The Doctors Company announced Brittnie Hayes as interim senior vice president of claims, succeeding Michael Meyer after his 42‑year tenure. Hayes, who joined the firm in 2023, will lead the national claims team and steer the upcoming ProAssurance integration. She...
Nantucket Flight Returns After Part of Cabin Door Opens Midair
On April 8, 2026 a Cape Air commuter flight departing Nantucket experienced a partial opening of its main cabin door shortly after takeoff. The crew promptly turned back and landed safely at Nantucket Memorial Airport with no injuries reported. The aircraft was...
Another State, Tennessee, Warns Insurers About the Proper Use of Drone Images
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance issued a bulletin warning insurers that drone and satellite images cannot be the sole basis for claim or non‑renewal decisions. Insurers must verify roof conditions with physical inspections or other data when aerial...
Texas Cannabis Businesses Sue State to Block Smokeable Hemp Ban
Texas hemp producers and advocacy groups have filed a lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order against the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. The suit challenges new regulations that cap total THC...
South Dakota Construction Company Sued Over Whistleblower’s Firing
U.S. Department of Labor sued Stone Hill Excavation LLC and its successor Split Rock Sand & Gravel for illegally terminating a worker who reported severe burns from a pressurized pipe. OSHA’s investigation confirmed the employee suffered second- and third-degree burns...
NFP Acquires Minnesota’s Sherman
NFP, an Aon‑owned property and casualty broker and benefits consultant, announced the acquisition of Sherman Insurance Agency, a Minnesota‑based full‑service insurer focused on trucking, commercial, personal and benefits coverage. The deal deepens NFP’s footprint in the Upper Midwest and bolsters...
Risk Strategies Claims Ex-Employees’ Talent and Customer Raid Has Cost It $900K
Boston‑based specialty insurer Risk Strategies has filed a federal lawsuit against former executives Tim and Sheena Tracy and their new employer, Marshall + Sterling, alleging they poached clients and staff while using confidential trade secrets. The firm says the coordinated departure cost...
Maker of Stanley Tumblers Prevails in Lawsuit Over Lead Scare
A federal judge dismissed a proposed class‑action lawsuit alleging Pacific Market International concealed lead in its popular Stanley tumblers. Judge Tana Lin found plaintiffs failed to show a specific, plausible risk of harm from the lead‑containing temperature‑control pellets. The decision...
Yes, Motorist Can Sue for Pothole Injury if the City Knew, Mississippi High Court Says
The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that a city can be sued for pothole injuries when it had actual or constructive knowledge of the defect. In City of Jackson v. Latoya Lawson, the court upheld a $67,603 economic and $152,000 noneconomic...
Connecticut Weighs P/C Insurance Surcharge to Fund Local Infrastructure Resilience
Connecticut lawmakers are debating a 5% surcharge on commercial property‑casualty insurance for fossil‑fuel infrastructure, aiming to create a climate resilience account that funds local flood‑risk and infrastructure projects. The measure, SB 453, cleared the Environment Committee and awaits fiscal analysis, with...