Homeowners' insurances set for change
Post (subscription), South Africa - Jan 31, 2006 Mortgage SA, says that the National Credit Bill has brought to the fore likely changes to the sourcing of compulsory homeowners insurance, ie insurance that

INSURANCE DEPARTMENT RELEASES FEB. 27 HEARING AGENDA
Empire Information Services, Inc. (press release), NY - Feb 10, 2006 agenda for the Monday, Feb. 27, 2006 public hearing on the state's current homeowners' insurance marketplace. The hearing will begin

FEMA, MEMA Encourage Buying Flood Insurance
WLOX, MS - Feb 8, 2006 "Unfortunately, one lesson learned from this catastrophe was realizing homeowners insurance doesn't cover your property in the event of a flood.

Insurance checklist may help confused consumers
Palm Beach Post, FL - Jan 24, 2006 Gallagher also asked the task force to create a standard homeowners insurance policy that every insurer would be required to sell.

REPS. ISRAEL, MCCARTHY, SENATOR BALBONI CALL FOR FEDERAL NATURAL
American Chronicle, CA - Jan 20, 2006 are co-sponsoring The Homeowner's Insurance Protection Act of 2005, a comprehensive catastrophic insurance bill that reduces homeowners' insurance costs to

Linguistic bias topic of seminar
Columbia Daily Tribune - ST. LOUIS (AP) - John Baugh says he could do a comedy routine about how white landlords reacted when he showed up to look at apartments, as a black man, when they assumed the "professional voice" in his telephone inquiries was that of a white person

AP Interview: Blanco says FEMA maps holding up housing repairs
KATC 3 - BATON ROUGE, La. Governor Kathleen Blanco says the state's hurricane reconstruction efforts are hampered by waits for new federal elevation standards for home building and could face further hindrances by the White House's refusal to back a key home

News: South Charleston, St. Albans could agree
Charleston Daily Mail - The mayors of St. Albans and South Charleston say they would consider splitting the former town of Jefferson and the estimated $400,000 business and operation tax base it represents. "I'd be open to the idea, if that's what it takes to resolve it

Florida Proposes Standard Rating Territories For
Insurance News Net - TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (BestWire) - Florida's Office of Insurance Regulation has proposed a plan to create standard rating territories to be used by all property/casualty insurers for residential property insurance. According to the OIR, the rating

Statistics show decrease in car burglaries
Montgomery Advertiser - Police say car burglaries are down in Montgomery, but Willie Caraway and Jeff Tatum might be hard pressed to believe those statistics. Caraway, who has lived behind Montgomery's Eastdale Mall for 33 years, awoke one recent Thursday morning to find

Initiative Claiming to Stop Insurance Company Abuses Would Stop
Insurance News Net - INDIANAPOLIS (Jan. 26, 2006) - The nation s largest property/casualty trade association has blasted a proposed ballot initiative to regulate insurance in California, calling it a "stunningly misguided proposal." Late last week, self-styled consumer

Cranley Named C.O.O. of Plymouth Rock Assurance Corp.
dBusinessNews.com - Boston: Cranley Named C.O.O. of Plymouth Rock Assurance Corp. BOSTON -- Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation announced today that Thomas Boston: CIM High Yield Securities Announces Liquidation BOSTON -- CIM High Yield Securities (the "Fund

Katrina in the rear-view
Memphis Commercial Appeal - Doug Crovetto, his wife, Gina, and 6-year-old daughter Amy just beat Hurricane Katrina out of southern Louisiana. A flooded home in St. Bernard Parish and nervousness about whether that would happen again got them thinking about staying in Memphis. A

Terra's not so firma, yet we still build
St. Petersburg Times - With all the talk of sinkholes and homeowners fretting over their skyrocketing premiums, the phone rang. An angry resident wanted to discuss the Pasco County Development Review Committee's Jan. 12 meeting. A developer planned to build Mayfair

Insurer's quarterly earnings drop 11%
Philadelphia Inquirer - Philadelphia Consolidated Holding Corp. said yesterday that its fourth-quarter earnings fell after the Bala Cynwyd property and casualty insurer wrote down the book value of its Florida subsidiary. The company reported earnings of $28.9 million, or

Florida task force tackles
MENAFN - Jan. 28--TAMPA -- The state's insurer of last resort should cap coverage for homeowners to three to five years and require hurricane-resistant home upgrades to entice private insurers to take policyholders, a state task force studying Florida's

Auto and
dBusinessNews.com - Honolulu: Auto and

Court says Allstate not responsible for evacuee expenses
MySanAntonio - Allstate will not have to cover the living expenses of evacuees displaced from their homes by Hurricane Rita if their homes were not damaged, a state district judge in Austin has ruled. The Texas Department of Insurance took Allstate to court last

Homeowners pay extra Citizens fee
News-Press - TALLAHASSEE Like most Florida homeowners these days, Thelma Williams was taken aback by the dramatic rise in her property insurance bill. "I'm really on a fixed income, so if it keeps going up and up, I'm in trouble," the Merritt Island resident

Fla. Allstate homeowners rates to go up as much as 50 percent (Gainesville Sun)
lorida's insurance regulator quietly agreed last month to allow Allstate to go forward with a rate increase that, for some customers, will mean premium hikes of up to 50 percent.

/
Strategies Homeowners Insurance and Global Warming Effective Evacuation, Re-buying and Demo Airborne Contaminants - Squint & Shallow Breathing

Insurers reassure flood-risk homeowners (Guardian Unlimited)
Households at risk from flooding were told today that they will be able to buy insurance against damage if plans for flood defences are in progress.

Home Owners May Pay More for Flood Insurance (KGBT 4 Rio Grande Valley)
The damage done to the Gulf Coast areas since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita is costing homeowners and the insurance industry billions of dollars. But some possible changes could have an impact on your insurance coverage.

Court says Allstate not responsible for evacuee expenses
MySanAntonio - Allstate will not have to cover the living expenses of evacuees displaced from their homes by Hurricane Rita if their homes were not damaged, a state district judge in Austin has ruled. The Texas Department of Insurance took Allstate to court last

Legally Speaking - with Bob Mionske: Garage v. Roof Rack, Part II
VeloNews, CO - Jan 31, 2006 My auto insurance would not cover it because it was not car related, and my homeowners insurance would not cover it because it was not my bike.

Seeking to help home insurers
Newsday, NY - Jan 21, 2006 Israel and McCarthy said they hope that passage of the Homeowners Insurance Protection Act of 2005 - a bill proposed in the House of Representatives last year

Senator now just an upset homeowner
CNN - Feb 8, 2006 How taboo of him! I wonder if his homeowners insurance rates will go up after his outburst on the Senate floor A person can spend

AAA celebrates grand reopening, new way of doing business
Napa Valley Register, CA - Feb 8, 2006 there too. Many people don't know that AAA also offers a worldwide travel agency and homeowners insurance, he added. Napa's typical

Schumer: Allstate Fears Are Scare Tactic
WCBS-TV New York, NY - Feb 3, 2006 Charles Schumer said the state's largest provider of homeowners insurance should reconsider its decision to stop writing new policies in the metropolitan area

EDA, Habitat for Humanity, clear the way for first Habitat home in
Isanti County News, MN - Feb 8, 2006 and be willing to put sweat equity into the project, pay a $100 down payment and $400 for closing costs with an additional $400 for homeowners insurance.

PCI Backs Miss. Legislation to Educate Consumers about Flood
Insurance Journal - Feb 8, 2006 House to support legislation (SB 2014) that will help clarify for consumers that coverage for flood damage is excluded from homeowners insurance policies.

Bill would bar automatic denial of claims because of water marks
KPLC TV - BATON ROUGE, La. A Senate committee has decided that insurance companies shouldn't be able to point to floodwater marks or homes shifted from their foundations as the only reason for denying claims. The bill by Senator Julie Quinn is another piece of

Court says Allstate not responsible for evacuee expenses
MySanAntonio - Allstate will not have to cover the living expenses of evacuees displaced from their homes by Hurricane Rita if their homes were not damaged, a state district judge in Austin has ruled. The Texas Department of Insurance took Allstate to court last

Auto and
dBusinessNews.com - Honolulu: Auto and

Mercury General Corporation Increases Dividend 11.6%
[Press Release] PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance - Feb 06 5:30 AM
Mercury General Corporation announced that its Board of Directors, on February 3, 2006, declared a first quarter dividend of $0.48, an annual rate of $1.92 representing an 11.6% increase over the rate paid in 2005.Save to My Web

New Radios Mean Better Communication for Fire Departments
RedNova - Feb 03 12:06 AM
By Gene Zaleski, The Times and Democrat, Orangeburg, S.C. Feb.Save to My Web

Insurance watchdog barks at Citizens rate hike requests
The Palm Beach Post - Feb 01 9:24 PM
Citizens Property Insurance Corp.'s proposed 45.2 percent rate hike for its most risky home policies is unreasonable, the state's insurance consumer advocate said Wednesday.Save to My Web

Wed. special session notes & quotes
KATC3 - Feb 09 2:30 AM
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Water marks or a home shifted from its foundation shouldn't be the sole reason for an insurance company to deny a homeowner's claim after the hurricanes, the Senate agreed Wednesday in a 35-1 vote.Save to My Web

Democratic candidates show similarity
Sun-Sentinel - Feb 03 12:28 AM
West Boynton Two Democrats running for governor offered few divergent views in a debate Thursday, touting instead similar promises to help lift the Democratic party out of a muddled period in its history.Save to My Web

Premiums skyrocket
Florida Today - Feb 04 11:06 PM
Brevard County residents see big premium increases for homeowners' insurance.Save to My Web

Buy flood policy, officials urge
The Biloxi Sun Herald - Feb 09 1:11 AM
The next hurricane season is only a few months away and Mississippians, still reeling from Hurricane Katrina, should buy flood insurance, officials say.Save to My Web

PCI Backs Miss. Legislation to Educate Consumers about Flood Coverage
Insurance Journal - Feb 08 12:25 PM
The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America is urging the Mississippi House to support legislation (SB 2014) that will help clarify for consumers that coverage for flood damage is excluded fSave to My Web

Prepared remarks of Gov. Haley Barbour to the Senate Homeland
Biloxi Sun Herald, USA - Feb 2, 2006 Because regular homeowners insurance doesn't cover floods, these people did not know they were exposed with no insurance coverage.

FEMA, MEMA encourage buying flood insurance
Biloxi Sun Herald, USA - Feb 8, 2006 "Unfortunately, one lesson learned from this catastrophe was realizing homeowners insurance doesn't cover your property in the event of a flood.

Premiums skyrocket
Florida Today, FL - Feb 4, 2006 lost someone close to her. But the cause of her dismay was her homeowners' insurance bill. Her insurer, Nationwide Insurance Company

Gov: FEMA maps stalling house repairs
KATC 3 - BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Homeowners struggling to recover from the hurricanes are hampered by waits for new federal elevation standards, and a proposal to assist them through federal home buyouts won't have the critical backing of the White House, Gov

Florida Proposes Standard Rating Territories For
Insurance News Net - TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (BestWire) - Florida's Office of Insurance Regulation has proposed a plan to create standard rating territories to be used by all property/casualty insurers for residential property insurance. According to the OIR, the rating

Lawmakers ponder catastrophe fund
Palm Beach Post - HOMEOWNER RELIEF: A federal plan to cover some costs of natural disasters would keep premiums down because reinsurance would cost less. When private reinsurers increase their rates, insurers pass along the cost to homeowners. SHARING THE BURDEN: Some

National linguistic expert to host conference in St. Louis
KCTV 5 - ST. LOUIS -- John Baugh says he could do a comedy routine about how white landlords reacted when he showed up to look at apartments, as a black man, when they assumed the "professional voice" in his telephone inquiries was that of a white person

Statistics show decrease in car burglaries
Montgomery Advertiser - Police say car burglaries are down in Montgomery, but Willie Caraway and Jeff Tatum might be hard pressed to believe those statistics. Caraway, who has lived behind Montgomery's Eastdale Mall for 33 years, awoke one recent Thursday morning to find

NYC Hurricane Fears? Allstate Won't Renew Some Homeowner Pol
Fox News - Feb 06 12:37 PM
Allstate Corp. said Monday that it won't renew some homeowner insurance policies in the New York City area to reduce its exposure in the case of a major hurricane.Save to My Web

Horace Mann Reports Results for Fourth Quarter and Full Year
[Press Release] PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance - Feb 08 2:02 PM
Horace Mann Educators Corporation today reported net income of $16.1 million and $77.3 million , respectively, for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2005, compared to $28.3 million and $56.3 million for the same periods in 2004.Save to My Web

Allstate Scores With Chicago Rush
[Press Release] Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance - Feb 02 7:27 AM
BUFFALO GROVE, Ill.----Feb. 2, 2006--A new and exciting partnership is kicking off between Allstate and the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League. Not only is Allstate's Midwest Region sponsoring the Rush's 2006 season - at each of the team's eight home games, two Allstate exclusive agents from the Chicago area will lead the charge with personal event sponsorships.Save to My Web

Reducing the threat of fire and mold
Rough Notes - Jan 27 11:27 AM
The first little pig decided to build his house of straw. The second, only a little wiser, opted for wood. But if it had not been for the third little pig, pigs number one and two would have been roast pork sandwiches for the big bad wolf.Save to My Web

Insurance concerns mounting
Bradenton Herald - Feb 03 12:14 AM
As real estate prices and property taxes in Florida continue to escalate, many residents are facing another rate increase: homeowner's insurance.Save to My Web

/C O R R E C T I O N -- Fidelity National Financial, Inc./
SYS-CON Media - Feb 09 10:52 AM
Fidelity National Financial, Inc. , a Fortune 500 provider of outsourced products and services to a variety of industries, today reported operating results for the three-month and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2005.Save to My Web

Surcharges hit battered homeowners
Tallahassee Democrat - Feb 09 2:39 AM
Like most Florida homeowners these days, Thelma Williams was taken aback by the dramatic rise in her property-insurance bill. ''I'm really on a fixed income, so if it keeps going up and up, I'm in trouble,'' the Merritt Island resident said.Save to My Web

Homeowners Insurance: Money Saving Tips
Union Leader - Feb 03 1:14 PM
(ARA) - Most lenders require you to have homeowners insurance. But just because it is required does not mean that all policies cost the same amount. There are several ways you can save money on your homeowners insurance. Wouldn't you rather put the money you've saved into your home?Save to My Web

Medicare Part D confusing for users
Villages Daily Sun - Jan 30 4:15 AM
THE VILLAGES - The enrollment period for Medicare Part D began Nov. 15. Two months later, some people are still confused and overwhelmed by the process.Save to My Web

La. Citizens to Get Loans to Continue Paying Claims
Insurance Journal - Jan 27 7:40 AM
With Louisiana's state-run homeowners insurance company quickly running out of money to pay claims, a banking group is trying to put a loan in place to keep it afloat. Citizen's Property InsuranSave to My Web

Notes and quotes from the Louisiana legislative special session
Times Picayune, LA - Feb 8, 2006 did not have flood policies, but many homeowners say the water was driven by hurricane winds and should be covered under their traditional homeowners' insurance

Florida task force tackles homeowners insurance
Middle East North Africa Financial Network, Jordan - Jan 28, 2006 Jan. 28--TAMPA -- The state's insurer of last resort should cap coverage for homeowners to three to five years and require hurricane

Michigan Governor, Democrats Introduce Multi-bill Insurance Reform
Insurance Journal - Feb 1, 2006 statement to disclose, by zip code, number of policies applied for, polices issued and number of policies canceled/non renewed for auto and homeowners insurance

State announces property insurance reforms
Jacksonville Business Journal, FL - Jan 26, 2006 The Consumer Quick Check Guide outlines specific coverage and limits generally provided under most homeowners' insurance policies.

Auto and Homeowners Insurance Available Through AAA Hawaii
Business Wire (press release), CA - Jan 26, 2006 26, 2006--AAA Hawaii's affiliated insurer has received approval by the state insurance division to offer automobile and homeowners insurance to qualified

Premiums skyrocket
Florida Today, FL - Feb 4, 2006 lost someone close to her. But the cause of her dismay was her homeowners' insurance bill. Her insurer, Nationwide Insurance Company

Legally Speaking - with Bob Mionske: Garage v. Roof Rack, Part II
VeloNews, CO - Jan 31, 2006 My auto insurance would not cover it because it was not car related, and my homeowners insurance would not cover it because it was not my bike.

Homeowners Insurance Dropped (First Coast News)
JACKSONVILLE,FL--Ed Holtsinger still does what he's been doing for decades. And just like how he takes care of his livestock, he gives the same attention to his homeowners insurance.

Electric Insurance Revises Maine Auto Product (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
BEVERLY, Mass.----Feb. 10, 2006--Electric Insurance has expanded its automobile product reach in Maine by introducing additional price points. Using a multivariate pricing model, Electric has developed rate levels that will improve the Company's competitive position for a broader range of clients.

Premiums skyrocket
Florida Today - Feb 04 11:06 PM
Brevard County residents see big premium increases for homeowners' insurance.Save to My Web

Horace Mann Announces Fourth Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call
[Press Release] PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance - Feb 02 8:22 AM
Horace Mann Educators Corporation will release its fourth quarter 2005 earnings on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 after the market closes.Save to My Web

In brief
Hattiesburg American - Feb 09 8:32 AM
Starting Monday morning, the Mississippi Department of Transportation will close Glendale Avenue between Interstate 59 and Monroe Road in North Forrest County to work on the Evelyn Gandy Parkway, said Bobby Pickett, Forrest County road manager.Save to My Web

ASLAcomputingBlog : ASLAcomputingBlog
"Hard-driving homeowners have converted their loos into virtual satellite industries will remain banking and insurance. But rapid expansion is also

Home Owners May Pay More for Flood Insurance (KGBT 4 Rio Grande Valley)
The damage done to the Gulf Coast areas since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita is costing homeowners and the insurance industry billions of dollars. But some possible changes could have an impact on your insurance coverage.

Poynter Online - Al's Morning Meeting
Ruling on homeowners insurance case ahead... Million-dollar homes... Oil profits. By Al Tompkins 1/30/06: Identity Theft: No. 1 Consumer Complaint

Gallagher, candidate for governor, talks roads in East Manatee (Bradenton Herald)
There were questions on national issues such as abortion and statewide issues such as homeowners insurance, but Tom Gallagher soon realized that a candidate for governor can't visit Manatee County without addressing roadway problems.

Allstate increases its rates (Florida Today)
State regulators reverse their position and approve Allstate homeowners insurance rate hike.

Declarations and Exclusions
Christmas...an Insurance Holiday Tale ". 'Twas the night before control measure for unsuspecting homeowners, in an era when that Jolly

/
Strategies Homeowners Insurance and Global Warming Effective Evacuation, Re-buying and Demo Airborne Contaminants - Squint & Shallow Breathing

Chubb Connects Homeowners with Water-Damage Restoration Specialists (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies has established a preferred vendor network of restoration specialists to help homeowners mitigate and repair damage to their homes caused by water.

Getting homeowners insurance (CNN Money)
Insurance isn't protecting homeowners like it used to. Today more and more insurance companies are refusing to write new policies in vulnerable areas and canceling other homeowner policies in order to help their bottom line.

Fla. lawmakers ponder catastrophe fund
The Palm Beach Post - Feb 04 4:35 PM
Weary from weathering seven hurricanes the last two years, Florida wants the rest of the nation to shoulder some of the burden of paying for the widespread damage caused by natural disasters.Save to My Web

Unsure how to lower insurance rates
Denton Record Chronicle (subscription), TX - Jan 13, 2006 major opponents two Democrats and two independents couldn't offer many specifics on how they would attack the problem of costly homeowners insurance.

Premiums skyrocket
Florida Today, FL - Feb 4, 2006 lost someone close to her. But the cause of her dismay was her homeowners' insurance bill. Her insurer, Nationwide Insurance Company

AAA to offer auto, home insurance in Hawaii
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, HI - Jan 27, 2006 AAA Hawaii's affiliated insurer won state approval yesterday to begin offering automobile and homeowners insurance to its 120,000 members in the islands.

Schumer: Allstate wrong to stop writing new policies
KATC, LA - Feb 3, 2006 NEW YORK -- The state's largest provider of homeowners insurance should reconsider its decision to stop writing new policies in the metropolitan area over

Home grants 2 weeks away
Biloxi Sun Herald, USA - Feb 7, 2006 People who have or had homeowners insurance and flood insurance are eligible; all insurance proceeds will be deduced from grant amounts.

Homeowners' Insurance Focus of Feb. 27 Public Hearing in New York
Insurance Journal - Feb 1, 2006 Howard Mills reported that the New York State Insurance Department will hold a public hearing focusing on conditions in the homeowners' insurance market in

Ensure that your coverage costs less
Orlando Sentinel, FL - Feb 5, 2006 WASHINGTON -- If you have received your annual homeowners insurance bill recently, you have probably discovered what many home buyers have been going through

Surcharges hit battered homeowners (Tallahassee Democrat)
Like most Florida homeowners these days, Thelma Williams was taken aback by the dramatic rise in her property-insurance bill. ''I'm really on a fixed income, so if it keeps going up and up, I'm in trouble,'' the Merritt Island resident said.

The Hartford's Ramani Ayer to Speak at Merrill Lynch 2006 Insurance Investors Conference (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
Ramani Ayer, chairman, president and CEO of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. , will be the opening speaker at the 2006 Insurance Investors Conference sponsored by Merrill Lynch on Tuesday, February 14, at approximately 8:20 a.m. at The Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York City.

The Washington Times, America's Newspaper
Sale Fresh Air Purifiers Homeowners Insurance Hotels Auto Insurance Mortgage Loans Online Universities Trade Show Displays Adventure Vacation Moving

Surcharges hit battered homeowners (Tallahassee Democrat)
Like most Florida homeowners these days, Thelma Williams was taken aback by the dramatic rise in her property-insurance bill. ''I'm really on a fixed income, so if it keeps going up and up, I'm in trouble,'' the Merritt Island resident said.

Legislation would send some insurance cash directly to homeowners (Sun-Sentinel)
Homeowners eager to get insurance money to start repairs after a fire or hurricane would no longer have to wait on their mortgage lenders' signatures to pocket some of the cash, under a proposal announced Monday.

Chubb Connects Homeowners with Water-Damage Restoration Specialists (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies has established a preferred vendor network of restoration specialists to help homeowners mitigate and repair damage to their homes caused by water.

Policyholders face more costs (Florida Today)
Homeowners could see a 3 percent increase in insurance policies in addition to double-digit rate increases sought by private insurers and to cover the 2005 deficit for Citizens Property Insurance.

Getting homeowners insurance (CNN Money)
Insurance isn't protecting homeowners like it used to. Today more and more insurance companies are refusing to write new policies in vulnerable areas and canceling other homeowner policies in order to help their bottom line.

Home Owners May Pay More for Flood Insurance (KGBT 4 Rio Grande Valley)
The damage done to the Gulf Coast areas since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita is costing homeowners and the insurance industry billions of dollars. But some possible changes could have an impact on your insurance coverage.

Now you can get insured by AAA
Honolulu Advertiser - Jan 27 4:52 AM
The local AAA affiliate has entered the insurance business after receiving state approval to sell automobile, homeowners' and life insurance to Hawai'i automobile association members.Save to My Web

Consumer advocate calls Citizens' hike request out of line
The Palm Beach Post - Feb 01 9:35 AM
Citizens Property Insurance Corp.'s proposed 45 percent windstorm rate increase is out of line, Steve Burgess, Florida's insurance consumer advocate, said today.Save to My Web

Schumer: Allstate wrong to stop writing new policies
The Daily Comet - Feb 03 3:41 PM
The state's largest provider of homeowners insurance should reconsider its decision to stop writing new policies in the metropolitan area over concerns about hurricane damage, Sen. Charles Schumer said Friday.Save to My Web

Northwest residents seeking fire coverage
San Antonio Express News - Jan 31 10:43 PM
Officials stressing need for emergency services district.Save to My Web

Allstate policies going with wind
Newsday - Feb 06 8:47 AM
State's biggest home insurer will increase policy cancellations because of storm predictions Allstate has disclosed plans to accelerate a program it revealed two weeks ago to reduce the number of homes it covers on Long Island, New York City and Westchester County because of the fear of intense coastal storms.Save to My Web

Unitrin, Inc. Reports Record Fourth Quarter and Full Year Operating Results
[Press Release] Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance - Feb 01 5:00 AM
CHICAGO----Feb. 1, 2006--Unitrin, Inc. reported today net income of $86.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2005, compared to $73.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2004. For the year ended December 31, 2005, Unitrin reported net income of $255.5 million , compared to $240.2 million in the same period in 2004.Save to My Web

Michigan Governor, Democrats Introduce Insurance Reform Package
Insurance Journal - Feb 01 8:25 AM
Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Democratic legislators introduced a multi-bill insurance reform package this week that is designed to reduce insurance rates. The National Association of Mutual Insurance CoSave to My Web

A new water tower will soon be on horizon
Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Jan 29 3:04 AM
The city will pay for an $800,000 water tower with a half-cent sales tax and by issuing certificates of obligation.Save to My Web

Mass. Economic Warning: Insurance Market Short on Capital
Insurance Journal - Jan 27 7:55 AM
Massachusetts is facing a shortage of insurance capital that could jeopardize the state's entire economy, especially if a major storm hits the metropolitan Boston area, the Commonwealth's insurance reSave to My Web

Allstate Bumper Car Derby Crashes into the 2006 Chicago Auto Show; Smashing Attraction Highlights Allstate's Auto Show
The Auto Channel - Feb 08 4:06 PM
NORTHBROOK, Ill.--Feb. 8, 2006--Surrounded by the newest and most technologically advanced cars in the world, Allstate is using a one of a kind bumper car experience to promote protection and peace of mind.Save to My Web

Allstate's decision upsets N.Y. senator
The Clarion-Ledger - Feb 04 3:05 AM
NEW YORK The state's largest provider of homeowners insurance should reconsider its decision to stop writing new policies in the New York City area over concerns about hurricane damage, Sen. Charles Schumer said Friday.Save to My Web

Robert Blake Seeks Bankruptcy Protection
Los Angeles Times - Feb 04 12:03 AM
Actor Robert Blake, who last year stood trial on both criminal and civil charges in connection with the 2001 slaying of his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, filed for bankruptcy Friday.Save to My Web

PCI Backs Miss. Legislation to Educate Consumers about Flood Coverage
Insurance Journal - Feb 08 12:25 PM
The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America is urging the Mississippi House to support legislation (SB 2014) that will help clarify for consumers that coverage for flood damage is excluded fSave to My Web

Insurer's quarterly earnings drop 11%
The Philadelphia Inquirer - Feb 08 12:15 AM
Philadelphia Consolidated Holding Corp. said yesterday that its fourth-quarter earnings fell after the Bala Cynwyd property and casualty insurer wrote down the book value of its Florida subsidiary.Save to My Web

Michigan Territorial Rating Bill Could Raise Rates for Most Consumers
Insurance Journal - Feb 08 8:10 AM
Legislation supported by Detroit-area lawmakers, which seeks to lower insurance costs in their city, could increase premiums up to 60 percent for other Michigan consumers by prohibiting insurance compSave to My Web

FEMA: Get flood insurance; don't delay
The Daily Comet - Jan 28 1:12 PM
As Louisiana continues to recover from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, it is vital that all property owners living and doing business in areas designated as flood zones by the National Flood Insurance Program purchase flood insurance.Save to My Web

Michigan Governor, Democrats Introduce Insurance Reform Package
Insurance Journal - Feb 01 8:25 AM
Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Democratic legislators introduced a multi-bill insurance reform package this week that is designed to reduce insurance rates. The National Association of Mutual Insurance CoSave to My Web

Insurer's quarterly earnings drop 11%
The Philadelphia Inquirer - Feb 08 12:15 AM
Philadelphia Consolidated Holding Corp. said yesterday that its fourth-quarter earnings fell after the Bala Cynwyd property and casualty insurer wrote down the book value of its Florida subsidiary.Save to My Web

State announces property insurance reforms
Business Journal of Tampa Bay - Jan 26 12:52 PM
The state has announced a new round of homeowner-friendly insurance reforms to better protect and prepare Floridians for a catastrophic event, and to help them shop for property insurance.Save to My Web

Report:
Bradenton Herald - Feb 08 12:27 AM
A private group of business executives from around Florida released a report Tuesday identifying critical economic challenges it says the state must overcome in the next two decades to maintain a competitive edge.Save to My Web

Abusing the law
Birmingham News - Jan 27 2:41 AM
The state Legislature must change a state law that allows fire districts to auction off people's homes because of late fire dues. And fire districts should abandon the practice of auctioning homes if the Legislature fails to act.Save to My Web

Michigan Territorial Rating Bill Could Raise Rates for Most
Insurance Journal - 20 hours ago is a need to make territorial distinctions for rating purposes," said Harrold highlighting the differences in automobile and homeowners insurance costs across

Insurance checklist may help confused consumers
Palm Beach Post, FL - Jan 24, 2006 Gallagher also asked the task force to create a standard homeowners insurance policy that every insurer would be required to sell.

New bill will allow homeowners to hunt for cheaper insurance
Helderberg.com, South Africa - Jan 26, 2006 MortgageSA, says: "The National Credit Bill has brought to the fore the likely changes to the sourcing of compulsory homeowners insurance - insurance that

Fla. Committee Recommends More Study; Releases 'Quick-Check'
Insurance Journal - Feb 2, 2006 The Consumer Quick Check Guides outline specific coverage and limits generally provided under most homeowners insurance policies.

Seeking to help home insurers
Newsday, NY - Jan 21, 2006 Israel and McCarthy said they hope that passage of the Homeowners Insurance Protection Act of 2005 - a bill proposed in the House of Representatives last year

Allstate pullout elicits rebuke
Newsday, NY - Feb 7, 2006 it.". Allstate has 18 percent of the homeowners' insurance market in the state, and 25.9 percent in the eight affected counties.

AAA celebrates grand reopening, new way of doing business
Napa Valley Register, CA - 21 hours ago there too. Many people don't know that AAA also offers a worldwide travel agency and homeowners insurance, he added. Napa's typical

EB Mental Health Center helps man get his home back
Bristol Phoenix, RI - Feb 7, 2006 the home. "The house itself needed a working heating system and the client needed homeowners insurance," said Ms. Fontaine. Ms. Diodati

From the Desk of Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy
Westbury Times, NY - Feb 2, 2006 "Last week, I was disappointed to learn that Allstate, the largest homeowners' insurance provider in New York State, decided to stop offering new policies on

Chubb Connects Homeowners with Water-Damage Restoration Specialists (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies has established a preferred vendor network of restoration specialists to help homeowners mitigate and repair damage to their homes caused by water.

FEMA, MEMA Encourage Buying Flood Insurance (WLOX-TV Biloxi)
The next hurricane season is only a few months away and Mississippians, while still reeling from Hurricane Katrina, should buy flood insurance, officials say.

Surcharges hit battered homeowners (Tallahassee Democrat)
Like most Florida homeowners these days, Thelma Williams was taken aback by the dramatic rise in her property-insurance bill. ''I'm really on a fixed income, so if it keeps going up and up, I'm in trouble,'' the Merritt Island resident said.

THE INEQUITIES OF FLOOD INSURANCE: When a Katrina hits, people in Michigan pay (Detroit Free Press)
Michigan policyholders have paid nearly four times as much for federal flood insurance since 1978 as they've received for damage to their property. Even before it was swamped with claims for $23 billion from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita last year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency had its winners and losers in the flood program, and Michigan was a definite loser.

Legislation would send some insurance cash directly to homeowners (Sun-Sentinel)
Homeowners eager to get insurance money to start repairs after a fire or hurricane would no longer have to wait on their mortgage lenders' signatures to pocket some of the cash, under a proposal announced Monday.

Oxendine offers homeowners tips in conjunction with Severe Weather Awareness Week (The Weekly)
Atlanta (Feb. 6) Severe Weather Awareness Week in Georgia is Feb. 19 - 25, and Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine wants to remind homeowners of some important insurance tips to protect their property from tornadoes, flooding and other weather-related hazards.

Fire-protection upgrades could cut insurance rates (Orlando Sentinel)
Homeowners and businesses could see a drop in their insurance premiums because of improvements in the county's fire protection. The ISO, a private information company that serves insurers and other industries, recently notified the Emergency Services Department that the fire-protection classification for most of the county had improved from a class 6 in 2004 to a class 4.

Katrina in the rear-view
Memphis Commercial Appeal - Doug Crovetto, his wife, Gina, and 6-year-old daughter Amy just beat Hurricane Katrina out of southern Louisiana. A flooded home in St. Bernard Parish and nervousness about whether that would happen again got them thinking about staying in Memphis. A

Get involved to find out how much neighborhoods can offer
Fort Wayne News-Sentinel - One of our resolutions for this New Year should be to make area partnership household words. What is a partnership? In our city, we have four area partnerships: Northwest, Northeast, Southeast and Southwest. With almost 400 neighborhood

Bill would bar automatic denial of claims because of water marks
KATC 3 - BATON ROUGE, La. A Senate committee has decided that insurance companies shouldn't be able to point to floodwater marks or homes shifted from their foundations as the only reason for denying claims. The bill by Senator Julie Quinn is another piece of

Auto and
dBusinessNews.com - Honolulu: Auto and

Fidelity National Financial, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter 2005 EPS
PR Newswire (press release), NY - 7 hours ago Through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, FNF is also a leading provider of specialty insurance products, including flood insurance, homeowners insurance and home

Homeowners get bulk of $5 billion
Pascagoula Mississippi Press, MS - Jan 26, 2006 The home had to be outside a federal flood zone but flooded. Homeowners must have had some sort of homeowners' insurance. Homeowners

Homeowners insurance rates to increase
2theadvocate.com, LA - Jan 18, 2006 By ELLEN TANDY, 2THEADVOCATE.COM STAFF. Get ready to pay more for homeowners' insurance -- thanks to Hurricane Katrina. Wednesday

Florida task force tackles homeowners insurance
Middle East North Africa Financial Network, Jordan - Jan 28, 2006 Jan. 28--TAMPA -- The state's insurer of last resort should cap coverage for homeowners to three to five years and require hurricane

Auto and Homeowners Insurance Available Through AAA Hawaii
Business Wire (press release), CA - Jan 26, 2006 26, 2006--AAA Hawaii's affiliated insurer has received approval by the state insurance division to offer automobile and homeowners insurance to qualified

Allstate pullout elicits rebuke
Newsday, NY - Feb 7, 2006 it.". Allstate has 18 percent of the homeowners' insurance market in the state, and 25.9 percent in the eight affected counties.

PROTECTION SELECTION
Orlando Sentinel, FL - Jan 29, 2006 WASHINGTON -- A new JD Power & Co. survey found that consumers are not always satisfied with their homeowners-insurance carriers.

Citizens' debt concentrated on coast
Florida Today, FL - Feb 4, 2006 the people who are paying to prepare for the storm and then paying again to recover not be taxed a third time by paying someone else's homeowners' insurance.

Fla. Committee Recommends More Study; Releases 'Quick-Check'
Insurance Journal - Feb 2, 2006 The Consumer Quick Check Guides outline specific coverage and limits generally provided under most homeowners insurance policies.

Democratic candidates show similarity
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel - West Boynton Two Democrats running for governor offered few divergent views in a debate Thursday, touting instead similar promises to help lift the Democratic party out of a muddled period in its history. U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, of Tampa, and state

Notes and quotes from the Louisiana legislative special session
Gainesville Sun - ouisiana could take advantage of some of the hurricane recovery provisions of the federal Gulf Opportunity Zone Act, to reshuffle debt and borrow money for local governments, under a bill approved Wednesday by a House committee. The bill (House Bill

AP Interview: Blanco says FEMA maps holding up housing repairs
KATC 3 - BATON ROUGE, La. Governor Kathleen Blanco says the state's hurricane reconstruction efforts are hampered by waits for new federal elevation standards for home building and could face further hindrances by the White House's refusal to back a key home

Allstate policies going with wind
Newsday - Allstate has disclosed plans to accelerate a program it revealed two weeks ago to reduce the number of homes it covers on Long Island, New York City and Westchester County because of the fear of intense coastal storms. Beginning this year, the

FEMA, MEMA encourage buying flood insurance
Biloxi Sun Herald - BILOXI, Miss. - The next hurricane season is only a few months away and Mississippians, while still reeling from Hurricane Katrina, should buy flood insurance, officials say. The official start of the hurricane season is June 1. The Federal Emergency

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Strategies Homeowners Insurance and Global Warming Effective Evacuation, Re-buying and Demo Airborne Contaminants - Squint & Shallow Breathing

Legislation would send some insurance cash directly to homeowners (Sun-Sentinel)
Homeowners eager to get insurance money to start repairs after a fire or hurricane would no longer have to wait on their mortgage lenders' signatures to pocket some of the cash, under a proposal announced Monday.

Hailey residents in floodplain advised to buy flood insurance (Sun Valley Central)
Slug: 06-02-08 Flood Insurance "If I was living in the floodplain, I would be making sure my flood insurance is in place.

Karmacially challenged life
that their homeowners insurance would pay for any possible damages and that they wouldn't sue. Completly unnecessary. My Tiny Terrorists did not

Oxendine offers homeowners tips in conjunction with Severe Weather Awareness Week (The Weekly)
Atlanta (Feb. 6) Severe Weather Awareness Week in Georgia is Feb. 19 - 25, and Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine wants to remind homeowners of some important insurance tips to protect their property from tornadoes, flooding and other weather-related hazards.

Workplace Fairness: today's workplace: it's everyone's job
car insurance, homeowners' insurance or grocery bills. They shouldn't be responsible for picking up their health care tab, either...The United States

REPAIR. REPLANT. REBUILD: South Florida Sun-Sentinel
policies do not typically cover flooding. Go to www.Flood Smart.gov or call 800-427- 2419 for more information. Laws passed this year give some hurricane

ASLAcomputingBlog : ASLAcomputingBlog
"Hard-driving homeowners have converted their loos into virtual satellite industries will remain banking and insurance. But rapid expansion is also

Chubb Connects Homeowners with Water-Damage Restoration Specialists (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies has established a preferred vendor network of restoration specialists to help homeowners mitigate and repair damage to their homes caused by water.

Homeowners pay extra Citizens fee (The News-Press)
TALLAHASSEE Like most Florida homeowners these days, Thelma Williams was taken aback by the dramatic rise in her property insurance bill. "I'm really on a fixed income, so if it keeps going up and up, I'm in trouble," the Merritt Island resident said.

Schumer: Allstate wrong to stop writing new policies
Newsday - NEW YORK -- The state's largest provider of

Vets rally to reverse damage
Exeter News-Letter - When resident John Garrant opened his 25,000-lights display at his Crowley Court home this past holiday season, he hoped to bring a bit of joy to area residents. He even raised about $350 from passers-by for a collection the Veterans of Foreign Wars

NYC Hurricane Fears? Allstate Won't Renew Some Homeowner Policies
FOX News - NEW YORK Allstate Corp. ( ALL ) said Monday that it wasn't renewing some of its homeowners' policies in the New York City area for fears that a major hurricane could strike in the area, leaving the insurer overexposed. The decision drew an

Gov: FEMA maps stalling house repairs
KATC 3 - BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Homeowners struggling to recover from the hurricanes are hampered by waits for new federal elevation standards, and a proposal to assist them through federal home buyouts won't have the critical backing of the White House, Gov

AP Interview: Blanco says FEMA maps holding up housing repairs
KATC 3 - BATON ROUGE, La. Governor Kathleen Blanco says the state's hurricane reconstruction efforts are hampered by waits for new federal elevation standards for home building and could face further hindrances by the White House's refusal to back a key home

Helicopter crash seriously injures 3
The Herald Bulletin - Feb 05 5:00 AM
CHESTERFIELD A middle-of-the-night PHI Air Medical helicopter crash in a neighborhood Thursday injured three aboard but missed becoming a disaster on the ground.Save to My Web

Institute puts a premium on teaching teens insurance
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette - Jan 31 3:07 AM
Insurance is a unique product a promise of sorts. People pay premiums but dont walk away with anything in hand like they would if they bought a Quarter Pounder with cheese or a Tom Jones CD.Save to My Web

This land is whose land? Battle lines are drawn as Shannon Hills attempts to annex 1,500 acres into city; voters get
Benton Courier - 38 minutes ago
Signs are everywhere. They are on trees, on houses, in yards and in other places. And they have the same message: Vote NO to Shannon Hills Annexation.Save to My Web

Insurance concerns mounting
Bradenton Herald - Feb 03 12:14 AM
As real estate prices and property taxes in Florida continue to escalate, many residents are facing another rate increase: homeowner's insurance.Save to My Web

New Radios Mean Better Communication for Fire Departments
RedNova - Feb 03 12:06 AM
By Gene Zaleski, The Times and Democrat, Orangeburg, S.C. Feb.Save to My Web

Governor's Tax Cut Would Be A Record
The Tampa Tribune - Jan 31 10:34 PM
TALLAHASSEE - From cutting $100 checks for homeowners to reviving sales-tax holidays to repealing a tax on cocktails, Gov. Jeb Bush is proposing to return $1.5 billion of the state's revenue windfall to the people who sent it to Tallahassee.Save to My Web

Fidelity National Financial, Inc. Announces Board and Executive Officer Appointments
[Press Release] PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance - 4 minutes ago
Fidelity National Financial, Inc. , a Fortune 500 provider of outsourced products and services to a variety of industries, today announced the appointment of Alan L. Stinson, Chief Financial Officer, to the additional role of Chief Operating Officer and Brent B.Save to My Web

Council passes fire-tax district
Lancaster News - Feb 01 6:17 AM
County Council gave initial approval to establishing a tax for more funding for Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Department at its Monday meeting. The council voted 6-1, with Councilman Jack Estridge voting against it.Save to My Web

Homeowners insurance rates to increase
2theadvocate.com, LA - Jan 18, 2006 By ELLEN TANDY, 2THEADVOCATE.COM STAFF. Get ready to pay more for homeowners' insurance -- thanks to Hurricane Katrina. Wednesday

Seeking to help home insurers
Newsday, NY - Jan 21, 2006 Israel and McCarthy said they hope that passage of the Homeowners Insurance Protection Act of 2005 - a bill proposed in the House of Representatives last year

Insurer's quarterly earnings drop 11%
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA - 12 hours ago It took an after-tax charge of $25.7 million, or $1.04 a share, to reflect a diminished value of its Tampa homeowners insurance subsidiary.

Louisiana Blanco Issues Legislative Session Call
Bayou Buzz, LA - Jan 31, 2006 To legislate with respect to Act 37 of the 1st Extraordinary Session of 2005 relative to settlement monies on claims arising under homeowners insurance policies

The Heritage Foundation: Regulation
(WebMemo #888) Two proposals would allow homeowners to buy into federal flood insurance after the fact. That's a bad idea. Handouts and Takings:

Oxendine offers homeowners tips in conjunction with Severe Weather Awareness Week (The Weekly)
Atlanta (Feb. 6) Severe Weather Awareness Week in Georgia is Feb. 19 - 25, and Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine wants to remind homeowners of some important insurance tips to protect their property from tornadoes, flooding and other weather-related hazards.

Homeowners Insurance: Money Saving Tips (Union Leader)
(ARA) - Most lenders require you to have homeowners insurance. But just because it is required does not mean that all policies cost the same amount. There are several ways you can save money on your homeowners insurance. Wouldn't you rather put the money you've saved into your home?

Term Life Insurance -- As Easy As A-B-C (Union Leader)
(ARA) - There are some things in life that will always be confusing. Like why the same meals prepared at your children's friends' houses always taste better. Why you can run out of gas when the gauge still shows one-eighth full.

REPAIR. REPLANT. REBUILD: South Florida Sun-Sentinel
policies do not typically cover flooding. Go to www.Flood Smart.gov or call 800-427- 2419 for more information. Laws passed this year give some hurricane

Allstate cancels some NYC-area homeowners policies (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Allstate Corp. said on Monday that it wasn't renewing some of its homeowners' policies in the New York City area for fears that a major hurricane could strike in the area, leaving the insurer overexposed.

Legislation would send some insurance cash directly to homeowners (Sun-Sentinel)
Homeowners eager to get insurance money to start repairs after a fire or hurricane would no longer have to wait on their mortgage lenders' signatures to pocket some of the cash, under a proposal announced Monday.

Hailey residents in floodplain advised to buy flood insurance (Sun Valley Central)
Slug: 06-02-08 Flood Insurance "If I was living in the floodplain, I would be making sure my flood insurance is in place.

Task force calls for reforms
Miami Herald - Jan 25 3:52 AM
Homeowners frustrated not only by rate hikes, but the complicated language in their thick insurance policies might soon get a little relief from a short checklist.Save to My Web

Legislation would send some insurance cash directly to homeowners (Sun-Sentinel)
Homeowners eager to get insurance money to start repairs after a fire or hurricane would no longer have to wait on their mortgage lenders' signatures to pocket some of the cash, under a proposal announced Monday.

REPAIR. REPLANT. REBUILD: South Florida Sun-Sentinel
policies do not typically cover flooding. Go to www.Flood Smart.gov or call 800-427- 2419 for more information. Laws passed this year give some hurricane

Rental-car insurance is often unnecessary
Columbus Dispatch, OH - Feb 5, 2006 recommendation, however, is that instead of paying the rental company, you arrange a low-cost umbrella addon to your auto or homeowners insurance that offers

III: Record Mississippi Homeowners' Claim Payments from 2005
Insurance Journal - Jan 9, 2006 The record total of homeowners insurance claims payments resulting from the 2005 hurricanes in Mississippi is reportedly enough to wipe out all homeowners

Ensure that your coverage costs less
Orlando Sentinel, FL - Feb 5, 2006 WASHINGTON -- If you have received your annual homeowners insurance bill recently, you have probably discovered what many home buyers have been going through

Allstate Scores With Chicago Rush
Business Wire (press release), CA - Feb 2, 2006 Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through Allstate agencies, or in select states at allstate

III Says Nearly 70% of Katrina Homeowner Claims Settled in
Insurance Journal - Feb 2, 2006 The III estimated that more than 732,000 homeowners insurance claims have been settled in the two states, totaling $11.4 billion, as of Jan. 24.

Boro won t pay for tree damage
Edison/Metuchen Sentinel, NJ - Jan 25, 2006 of damage to his house. All but $500 of the repairs were covered by his homeowners insurance. The borough s insurance company

Oregonians urged to buy flood insurance
kptv.com - SALEM -- With heavy rains expected for the coming week, Governor Kulongoski is urging Oregonians in dager of flooding to get flood insurance. He says it can protect a home from ruin for a relatively low cost. He said he had viewed flood damage in

AP Interview: Blanco says FEMA maps holding up housing repairs
KATC 3 - BATON ROUGE, La. Governor Kathleen Blanco says the stat