When Gavin Newsom ran for California governor in 2018, his support for a state-run single-payer healthcare system was considered a risky move and earned him hefty labor endorsements. Today, leading Democrats in the wide-open race to succeed Newsom have embraced single-payer as a political necessity, an answer to voters fed up with rising premiums and other spiraling healthcare costs. But with no clear front-runner, they are sparring among themselves in debates and political ads over who is most committed to a government-run model. No candidate has outlined how California would fund comprehensive health coverage for its 40 million residents, leaving…
Author: Awais
When Nick Bouchat was lining up field goals at Highlands High School and later at Edinboro University, he never imagined he would one day have the opportunity to be part of a real National Football League (NFL) draft. The insurance agent at the family-owned Bouchat Agency in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania got that chance when he was invited by NFL sponsor Nationwide Insurance to announce a pick at the 2026 NFL draft in his hometown of Pittsburgh. On the third day of the draft, Bouchat took the podium before tens of thousands of football fans to reveal the fifth round,154th overall…
They include a new regional leader and a new head of cyber and tech E&O
The U.S. Department of Education opened an investigation Monday into Smith College, an all-women’s institution in Massachusetts, for admitting transgender women. The probe by the department’s Office of Civil Rights will look at whether the college violated Title IX, a 1972 law forbidding discrimination based on sex in education. The move is the latest by the Trump administration — whose rhetoric has frequently included attacks on trans people — to limit transgender rights in the U.S. The administration has said that Title IX prevents trans women from participating in women’s sports, suing several states and launching investigations into schools for…
With more older adults staying behind the wheel longer than ever, understanding how early cognitive changes affect driving has become increasingly important. In the United States, there are more than 50 million licensed drivers age 65 and older, including roughly 5 million in Florida – one of the highest concentrations in the country. As this population grows, so does the need for simple, real-world ways to detect early cognitive decline before it leads to safety risks. As interest in early cognitive decline grows, researchers are exploring whether subtle changes in everyday driving can signal pre-mild cognitive impairment (Pre-MCI) and mild…
A lighter cat quarter pushed Liberty Mutual’s combined ratio down to 88.2%, as Lincoln Financial leaned on spread-based annuities
Progressive properly rescinded coverage to a Michigan driver who made misrepresentations on their insurance application, the state Supreme Court ruled. Plaintiff Janice Sherman sought personal protection insurance (PIP) benefits through Progressive after being involved in a July 2021 car accident. Progressive discovered that Sherman improperly disclosed where she garaged her vehicles and who she lived with at the time of the accident. Had Sherman accurately disclosed those facts, her insurance premium would have increased by 83%. Progressive denied coverage on account of the misrepresentations, stating that it had rescinded Sherman’s policy and refunded premiums she had paid of approximately $1,500.…
Tehran has proposed fees or tolls on vessels passing through the Strait, in its proposals to end the war with Israel and the United States. The Strait is one of the world’s most strategically vital maritime routes, with about a fifth of global seaborne crude oil and LNG flows passing through it in normal times. The company does not intend to pay such fees in future, a company spokesperson told Reuters. “This is a principle of navigation based on international law, and we are adhering to it,” MOL President Jotaro Tamura told Reuters in an April interview, when queried if…
The deadly hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship doesn’t risk triggering the next pandemic, World Health Organization officials said, downplaying an incident that has raised concern about a new viral contagion. “This is not Covid, this is not influenza,” Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s director for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, told reporters Thursday. “This is an outbreak on a ship. We know this virus. This is not the same situation we were in six years ago.” The Dutch-flagged Hondius is sailing toward the Canary Islands after evacuating three people in Cape Verde on Wednesday. Three passengers have died,…
NormanMax Insurance Holdings, the US headquartered parametric insurer and reinsurer, has appointed industry veteran Nick Burkinshaw as Chairman of the NormanMax Syndicate 3939 Advisory Board, supporting the firm’s pure parametric global syndicate in the Lloyd’s marketplace.Burkinshaw, a well-known and highly respected underwriting leader in the market, brings over three decades of global insurance market expertise towards his new role. Throughout his career, Burkinshaw held the role of Active Underwriter for Catlin Syndicate 2003 at Lloyd’s, and subsequently took on the position of Chief Underwriting Officer at Apollo Syndicate Management. “The NormanMax Syndicate 3939 Advisory Board has been established to support…
A dental services provider is paying more than $2 million to settle charges of false advertising by California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Bonta’s office reached a settlement with Aspen Dental Management Inc. for engaging in false and misleading advertising. Aspen Dental describes itself as a dental support organization that provides business management and administrative services to dental offices, each of which operates under “Aspen Dental.” The California DOJ says the company exceeded that role by unlawfully directing the practice, ownership, and management of dentistry in California. The settlement, which remains subject to court approval, includes injunctive terms, $2 million in…
The U.S. trade court on Thursday ruled against President Donald Trump’s latest 10% global tariffs, finding they were not justified under a 1970s trade law, however the court only blocked the levy on two small businesses and the state of Washington. The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled in favor of the two businesses and Washington state that challenged the tariffs, which took effect on February 24. The ruling was 2-1, with one judge saying it was premature to grant victory to the small business plaintiffs. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The trade…
A large cyber insurance provider says it saw the number of ransomware attacks rise 45% last year. Cyber insurance MGA Cowbell’s 2026 claims report also shows average ransom payments fell by roughly 44% between 2022 and 2025. The firm attributed the payment decrease to stronger negotiation strategies and more effective claims handling. According to Stephanie Hewerdine, the MGA’s director of claims, the drop is also being driven in part by increased preparedness among insureds. “It’s likely attributable to several factors, but I think one of the most key factors is that insureds are often better prepared for these events nowadays,”…
Recovery times for injured workers are growing longer even as workplace injury rates decline, according to a new report from Travelers. The rising complexity of injury claims is driven by an aging workforce as well as a disproportionate vulnerability to new employees. Travelers’ 2026 Injury Impact Report found injuries to employees aged 60 and older are more severe, carrying recovery times of 97 days—more than two weeks the overall average of 80 days. Older employees are susceptible to fractures and dislocations, which take longer to heal. Slips, trips and falls are the leading causes of expensive injury claims (those exceeding…