Author: completebodyneeds

Slow-moving storms are drenching much of central Texas this week as a disturbance in the upper atmosphere collides with summer humidity to produce heavy rains. Flood alerts cover much of central Texas, including San Antonio, Austin and the Houston suburbs. By Tuesday afternoon, some areas had received as much as 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain, according to the US National Weather Service, with several more on the way and the potential for “life-threatening flooding” through Thursday. The heaviest rain is expected across the Texas Hill Country west of San Antonio, where as much as 20 inches could fall by…

Digital insurer Lemonade has expanded availability of its renters insurance into Vermont and Maine. They become the 43rd and 44th states where Lemonade offers renters insurance. Lemonade lets renters use an app to obtain quotes, purchase policies, update existing policies, and file claims. “We built Lemonade to cut through the complexity that makes traditional insurance painful. We offer simple quotes, instant claims, and rates that don’t break the bank,” said Dan Timsit, head of renters insurance at Lemonade. Coverage starts at $5 per month. Based on company and industry data, Lemonade’s renters insurance rates are approximately 30% lower than the…

All of the best-known storm forecasting services have predicted a mild 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. That includes Colorado State University, which last week revised its outlook to “well below normal” with just nine named storms, four hurricanes, and only one of them a major hurricane. But one lesser-known forecaster—whose service was recently bought out by National Weather Forecasting (NWF), a steadily growing forecasting firm, is, so far, sticking to its initial estimate of 13 named storms and four major hurricanes. And the service, pioneered by Florida meteorologist David Dilley, offers (for a subscription fee), something the other diviners don’t: a…

Craig Hanrahan Everest Group Ltd., headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda, appointed Craig Hanrahan as Global Distribution & Chief Commercial Officer, effective August 1, 2026. He will continue to report directly to Jim Williamson, Everest president and CEO, serving as a member of the company’s executive leadership team. Hanrahan will lead Everest’s global distribution strategy and key commercial relationships across its insurance and reinsurance businesses, partnering closely with business leaders to advance Everest’s commitment to delivering exceptional service, underwriting expertise and long-term value to clients and brokers worldwide. Hanrahan most recently served as head of U.S. retail insurance, where he led Everest’s…

Canada has suspended several animal exports from Texas due to concerns about the New World screwworm, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is immediately suspending the export of horses, pigs, cattle, bison, sheep, goats, deer, elk, moose, llamas and more. Imports from other states are permitted, provided the animals have not resided in or passed through Texas during the 21 days immediately prior to their arrival in Canada. The USDA stated in a news release on Tuesday that its accredited veterinarians must include information on whether the animal resided in or was transported through…

Waking up in a Waymo comes as a shock. Ditto Kasendar remembers soft music drifting from the robotaxi’s speakers as he rode home late at night from a friend’s birthday party last year. The next moment, Los Angeles firefighters were opening the door and asking if he was OK. His six-minute trip had ended nearly an hour before. A remote Waymo assistant, dialing in through the car’s speakers, repeatedly tried to rouse him and finally called 911 when he wouldn’t stir. “I was like, ‘Oh my god, what happened?’” said Kasendar, 30, an interior designer. Kasendar’s robocab nap was, unfortunately,…

An Indiana woman has pleaded guilty to wire fraud for her role in a six‑year scheme that targeted and financially devastated an elderly victim Shayna Williams, 51, of Westfield, was involved in a car accident with an elderly woman. Following the accident, over the course of six years, Williams defrauded the victim and the victim’s friend of $672,086 by repeatedly lying about injuries, medical conditions, and other expenses she claimed resulted from the car accident. Williams falsely asserted that her daughter had suffered severe back injuries in the accident, requiring costly surgery and specialized medical equipment, including a walker and…

The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a building contractor and a staffing company for safety violations after a worker suffered fatal injuries while operating a mini-excavator beneath an elementary school in Converse, Texas. The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration opened an inspection after a Jan. 7, 2026, incident at Converse Elementary School involving a D L Bandy Constructors Inc. employee who was removing accumulated dirt from the school’s crawl space with a mini excavator and became trapped between the equipment and a concrete beam, resulting in fatal injuries. Pacesetters Personnel Services also supplied workers for the project to…

AM Best has assigned a Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” (Excellent) to WoodStar Reciprocal Exchange (WoodStar), based in Little Rock, Arkansas. In addition, AM Best has assigned a Long-Term Issue Credit Rating of “bbb” (Good) to the $220 million, 9.5% fixed surplus notes, due 2041, issued by WoodStar. The outlook assigned to these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect WoodStar’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). The surplus notes…

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed a civil lawsuit against the president of water services provider Douglas Environmental for allegedly violating the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA). Nessel contends that Brian Powell submitted false reports that did not align with laboratory testing of private water systems serving mobile home communities across the state. “When individuals cut corners and submit false reports, they are not just breaking the law but also actively putting our families at risk,” said Nessel in a statement. “Environmental protections help keep toxic contaminants out of our water, and bypassing these regulations carries severe…