All articles tagged with #insurance
An Ohio family says hail damage wrecked their roof, but State Farm will only repair three shingles instead of fully fixing the roof, prompting questions about legality and insurers’ obligations. The situation highlights homeowner rights and could invite regulatory or legal review.
Los Angeles confirms its fifth measles case of the year tied to a May 14 flight into LAX, with health officials urging exposed travelers to verify vaccination status and monitor for symptoms as public health workers trace additional exposure sites; nationwide, measles outbreaks continue to rise. In California politics, several insurance-commissioner candidates call for greater state involvement, including public insurers, state disaster reinsurance, and backstops, sparking debate over feasibility and costs. A feature from The LA Local highlights Gen Z’s growing knit-night scene at Inglewood’s Knitting Tree as a welcome offline community space. A campus-focused report notes Turning Point USA chapters expanding across California campuses, fueling tensions with liberal groups. Rounding out LAist’s digest are weekly events and culture picks—art hangs, hikes, Pub Choir, and more—previewing pre-Olympic-season offerings.
Modern connected cars act as rolling data centers, collecting location histories, who’s in the car, what you listen to, and even biometrics like weight or facial expressions, often with little protection for consumers. Insurance companies and data brokers buy and sell this information, potentially raising rates or enabling targeted marketing. A Mozilla review found major car brands failing basic privacy standards, and GM faced FTC action over selling location data. With new U.S. rules pushing advanced impaired‑driving tech that could widen data collection—and uneven protections in the U.S. and Europe—consumers are advised to opt out of telematics, request and delete collected data, and adjust privacy settings, though comprehensive data ownership and consent safeguards are far from guaranteed.
After investigators found State Farm may have violated state law hundreds of times in wildfire claims handling, California State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez urged regulators to escalate pressure by restricting the insurer’s auto-insurance business, arguing that’s where it makes most of its money; regulators could fine up to $4 million or bar new policies if violations are willful, while State Farm denies wrongdoing.
AST SpaceMobile’s satellite launched on a Blue Origin booster ended up in an inoperable, too-low orbit and will be de-orbited; its cost is expected to be recovered under insurance, marking a setback to AST’s plan to deploy about 45 satellites by 2026 to offer space-based broadband amid Starlink competition, with the stock dropping about 7% in early trading.
Jordan’s Furniture ran a promo offering free furniture to customers who bought items Jan. 20–Mar. 1 if both UConn men’s and women’s teams reach the national championship games. After Sunday’s wins by the women over Notre Dame and the men over Duke, UConn is one win away from the finals, potentially triggering the payout for four customers. The retailer has insured the potential cost, a tactic it previously used in a 2007 World Series promotion that cost about $30 million and generated publicity and sales. The women’s team faces the winner of South Carolina vs. TCU and the men play Illinois next as the promotion nears its outcome.
With the U.S.–Iran conflict in its first month, the Strait of Hormuz has become a critical leverage point as Iran threatens ships, causing transits to fall roughly 90–95% and oil prices to spike (Brent near $113). Insurance costs to sail through Hormuz have surged to about 3.5–10% of a vessel’s value, but safety risks and crew concerns remain the main barrier to transit, not just premiums. A U.S.–backed insurance program could help, and naval escorts have been floated, but most experts say escorts would likely come only after a ceasefire or clear degradation of Iran’s attack capability. Once hostilities ease, expect a gradual restart of shipments over weeks to months, with a July rebound possible if a ceasefire holds; LNG exports face longer disruption due to damaged capacity in Qatar. Some ships still transit under Iranian permission or with approvals from friendly nations, but credible peace and security guarantees are needed for rapid normalization.
A Utah real estate agent, Kouri Richins, was convicted of aggravated murder for allegedly slipping five times the lethal fentanyl dose into her husband Eric Richins’s drink in March 2022, in a debt- and inheritance-driven scheme. Prosecutors also alleged an earlier Valentine’s Day fentanyl-laced sandwich attempt, a relationship with another man, and the use of life insurance policies totaling about $2 million. Richins published a children’s book about coping with grief after her husband’s death. Sentencing is scheduled for May 13, with aggravated murder carrying 25-to-life; jurors also found forgery and fraud charges.
The Iran-related conflict is fueling oil-price volatility and widespread travel disruption, with airlines warning of higher jet-fuel costs, rerouted itineraries, and tighter refund policies. Experts advise booking for the rest of the year now, avoiding basic-economy fares, and using flexible or mileage-based tickets where possible, while checking policies before booking. Travel insurance often excludes war-related losses, so review coverage and government advisories carefully. Expect possible flight cancellations or route changes, longer transits via alternate corridors, and impact on cruises and rail prices; if you already have plans, monitor carrier policies, consider credits or rebookings, and stay informed about safety advisories.
The U.S. will provide rolling reinsurance for losses up to $20 billion in the Gulf region to reassure oil and gas shippers during the Iran-related conflict, focusing on hull, machinery and cargo coverage and coordinating with American insurers and the Treasury; a Navy escort option is mentioned but its practicality remains uncertain.
The White House said it will offer political-risk insurance and, if needed, naval escorts for tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz to curb rising energy prices after Iran’s attacks, signaling a potential expansion of U.S. maritime operations in the Persian Gulf.
A $100 million insurance dispute over losses tied to House of Cards' sixth season goes to trial, with Media Rights Capital suing Fireman’s Fund over coverage after Kevin Spacey’s illness and misconduct fallout forced production changes; Spacey’s cooperation as a witness and Netflix’s alleged tiebreaker rights loom large as the court decides whether the losses were solely caused by the sickness under the policy, potentially reshaping how production insurance handles such claims.
State Farm is returning a record $5 billion in dividends to its customers, reflecting profits paid back to policyholders by the mutual insurer. Most payouts are issued automatically as credits on policy accounts or via mailed checks. If you believe you’re eligible but don’t see a credit, check your State Farm online account or contact customer service for the status and steps to claim.
Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas says he cannot participate in the World Baseball Classic due to insurance hurdles on his MLB contract, a problem impacting several Latin American stars and prompting talk of Puerto Rico possibly withdrawing from the event; the insurance rules are meant to cover teams for WBC injuries, but age- or history-based denials are drawing criticism and frustration.
The World Baseball Classic faces a participation crisis as multiple stars, notably Puerto Rico captain Francisco Lindor, are denied insurance to play and risk withdrawing. MLB and the MLBPA are pressuring the insurer to reverse decisions, while players without coverage can still play at their own expense, risk salary loss, or skip the tournament. Denials frequently cite age or recent injuries, and the situation echoes past injuries that have raised the stakes. With rosters due soon and the March 5 start approaching, teams may need last-minute replacements.