Federal prosecutors say Kevin Kolenda collected premiums for prize coverage but used aliases, a nonexistent claims department and other tactics to avoid paying claims when contestants won insured prizes.
Recent surf damage in Southern California exposed significant flood insurance gaps as forecasters warn that El Niño could push coastal water levels higher this fall and winter.
Utah insurers declined to renew 4.45% of homeowners policies in 2025, putting the state ahead of California as wildfire exposure and underwriting restrictions reshape property insurance availability.
It was a face off with the remnants of Tropical Storm Marie for Nicolas Cage in Malibu, where coastal flooding sent part of his driveway gone in 60 seconds, opening a massive hole and triggering a gas leak.
An EPA proposal would eliminate minimum federal public-notice and comment requirements for certain air pollution permits, leaving states and local agencies to determine how much public participation is required. The change comes as AI data center construction raises questions about pollution, power demand, water use and community impacts.
Marie is expected to remain well offshore, but forecasters warn its swell could produce dangerous rip currents, large waves and coastal flooding along Southern California, with the strongest effects expected Sunday and Monday.
A Kern County jury convicted Daniel Montes of arson and automobile insurance fraud after prosecutors said he stripped and burned a Jeep Gladiator as part of a plan to generate an insurance claim. Jail calls and videos recovered from his phone helped expose the scheme.
Organized thieves carried out 75,000 thefts from U.S. freight rail networks in 2025, pushing railroads to invest millions in AI cameras, drones, fencing and law enforcement partnerships.
A new Insurance Information Institute brief says heat waves, drought and development in the wildland-urban interface are driving wildfire exposure beyond the Western United States, creating new underwriting and claims challenges for insurers.
California is expanding satellites, AI camera networks, airtankers, and drone technology to detect wildfires earlier. State leaders hope reducing structure losses will help stabilize the homeowners insurance market and ease pressure on the FAIR Plan.
Long-period swells from Hurricane Genevieve are expected to generate dangerous surf, rip currents, and localized coastal impacts across Southern California through the weekend, even without a direct landfall.
An IIHS study found that Waymo’s Level 4 vehicles had fewer police-reportable and injury crashes per mile than human drivers. Researchers warned that federal crash and mileage reporting must improve as autonomous vehicle fleets expand.
Just as LADWP prepared to reopen Sunset Boulevard after replacing the ruptured 36-inch water main, crews discovered another leak that could extend repairs. The latest setback adds uncertainty for property owners, businesses, and insurance claims tied to the July 16 flooding.
Dashcam footage and an independent 911 witness helped investigators prove a California driver intentionally caused a collision before filing a fraudulent insurance claim. The driver received jail time, probation, and restitution after being convicted on multiple charges.
Two new studies conclude that mitigation discounts encourage home hardening for some property owners but fail to overcome affordability barriers for many households, even as climate-driven insurance costs continue to rise across much of the Southeast.
