Author: completebodyneeds

Minnesota health officials are warning consumers not to eat certain brands of alfalfa sprouts that have been tied to an unusual outbreak involving different disease-causing bacteria. Officials say 23 people in Minnesota have become ill with either E. coli or salmonella infections, with two of them hospitalized. Three had salmonella, and one of them also had a strain of E. coli bacteria called STEC O168:H8. Seven other people were sickened with a different version of E. coli, called STEC O103:H25. Thirteen more had yet another strain, STEC O26:H11. Wisconsin investigators have identified another 18 cases of illness tied to alfalfa…

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) announced Michelle Kranes as deputy commissioner of the Strategy and Performance Division on August 17. Kranes will oversee the division that supports TDI’s strategic planning, performance and risk management, and process improvement through technology, automation, and business innovation. Kranes started her state career at the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, where she evaluated state agencies and developed recommendations to enhance efficiency, accountability, and results. Most recently, she worked at the Texas Workforce Commission and led efforts to improve operations, including the modernization of the State of Texas employment application. Was this article valuable? Yes No…

AM Best has upgraded the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) to “a+” (Excellent) from “a” (Excellent) and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) of Kinsale Insurance Company (Kinsale) based in Little Rock, Arkansas. The outlook of the Long-Term ICR has been revised to stable from positive while the outlook of the FSR is stable. Concurrently, AM Best has upgraded the Long-Term ICR to “bbb+” (Good) from “bbb” (Good) of Kinsale Capital Group. The outlook of the Long-Term ICR has been revised to stable from positive. These Credit Ratings (ratings) reflect Kinsale’s balance sheet strength, which AM…

Clear Group Acquires UK Wholesale Broker, C.R. Toogood & Co. The Clear Group, the London-based insurance intermediary, announced the acquisition of C.R. Toogood & Co. Ltd., a commercial insurance broker based in East Horsley, Surrey, UK. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Clear said this strategic move underscores its continued investment in the UK retail sector, strengthening Clear’s footprint in the South of England. CR Toogood is a third generation family business, currently led by Peter Toogood. Alongside an experienced senior management team, the firm offers a comprehensive suite of services including commercial insurance, employee benefits, life insurance,…

Insurance Journal’s Risky Future series is hosting the “AI Tools for BPO & Consulting” Demo Day, a series of free AI tool demonstrations designed exclusively for Carriers, MGAs, Retail Agencies and Operations Executives. This event spotlights AI solutions that focus outsourced services and advisory solutions. This event features firms that help insurers and agencies scale operations, modernize workflows, and manage back-office functions. Demos will cover underwriting support, claims services, regulatory compliance, and transformation initiatives. In partnership with Insurance Journal, Risky Future’s AI Tools for Insurance BPO & Consulting Demo Day will be held on Wednesday, August 26, beginning at 1pm…

Scientists have recorded the highest temperature ever measured in the world’s oceans, as climate change combines with a powerful El Niño in the tropical Pacific.The global average sea-surface temperature hit a record 21.1C (70F) on Aug. 22, according to Europe’s Earth observation agency Copernicus, which has been tracking the metric daily since 1979. The previous single-day record of 21.09C was measured in March 2024. “El Niño is adding heat to the system, but it is doing so on top of decades of human-driven warming,” said Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at Copernicus’ European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. “As…

A new study suggests that some drivers feel speeding is okay despite the risks, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAAFTS). While most drivers agreed that posted speed limits are appropriate, many also considered driving 10 mph over the limit acceptable, and nearly half believed keeping up with traffic is safer than obeying the posted limit. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding was a factor in nearly 30% of traffic fatalities in 2024. “Findings from this research show that some drivers in the United States view speeding as a normal part of driving,” said Dr.…

Germany’s top security official confirmed the discovery of a cache of weapons on the outskirts of Berlin and said authorities are investigating the possible involvement of foreign security agents in a range of planned attacks. The revelation by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt on Friday comes as officials in Berlin have issued increasingly urgent warnings about hybrid threats in the context of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Dobrindt declined to comment on media reports that the discovery was tied to Russian intelligence, but he confirmed the arrest last year of a suspect in Romania. “This case shows that we are facing a…

An Alabama jury on Thursday awarded $9.25 million in damages after finding that The New York Times defamed a college basketball player by incorrectly reporting that he was at the scene of a fatal shooting in Tuscaloosa. Kai Spears, who played for the University of Alabama men’s team, sued the Times in 2023 after it published a report, citing a person familiar with the investigation, that indicated he was a passenger in a car involved in the shooting. The Times reported that the person had spoken “on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.” Days later, the Times acknowledged…

USI Insurance Services has sued three former producers, who “reneged on their contractual obligations” in a move to competitor Howden US, the brokerage alleged. According to a lawsuit filed earlier this month in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, producers Peter Dunst, William Seidler, and Jacob Spencer resigned on June 1 to join Howden US Specialty who, in the words of USI, is a “known raider of insurance brokers.” Multiple brokers have suits filed against former employees and Howden. Allegations include violations of employees contracts, taking clients, and stealing confidential information. In the USI suit, the broker…