Full content: A United States Postal Service employee has been indicted on federal fraud charges for allegedly collecting augmented workers’ compensation benefits to which she was not entitled, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois announced last month. Graciela Venegas, 66, …

Full content: Inszone Insurance Services announced its further expansion in Texas through the acquisition of Bierschwale-Rees Insurance, a long-established independent insurance agency based in Fredericksburg, Texas. Bierschwale-Rees Insurance traces its roots to 1903, making it one of the oldest continuously operating insurance …

Full content: Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers (RSUM), the underwriting management division of Ryan Specialty, announced the rebranding of Leopanthera to Ryan Financial Lines, effective January 1, 2026. A London-based Lloyd’s coverholder, Leopanthera specializes in underwriting diversified financial lines on a worldwide basis. …

Full content: Upstate New York-based independent agency Lawley announced that Witkin Scott Associates has joined its organization effective January 1, 2026. As part of this partnership, all associates of Witkin Scott will join Lawley and relocate to its main office in Buffalo. …

Full content: This year, many of the world’s most powerful artificial intelligence companies face a pitched battle over government regulation on their home turf—California. And even President Donald Trump’s threat to punish states that regulate AI may not stop the fight. California …

Full content: The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a 77-year-old woman who went overboard on a cruise ship near Cuba on New Year’s Day. Crews searched for eight hours over 690 square miles (1,787 square kilometers) for the woman, …

Full content: Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok has created sexualized images of people including minors on the social media platform X in response to user prompts in recent days, drawing rebuke from officials such as the French government. Grok created and …

Full content: Valais public prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the operators of Le Constellation Bar in Crans Montana, Switzerland, after a fatal fire that broke out on New Years Eve. Following the initial investigation conducted by the Valais public prosecutor’s …

Full content: Surging renewable output overwhelmed Europe’s power grid in 2025, driving electricity prices below zero more often than ever before. Negative power prices are underscoring how rapid growth in renewable generation is colliding with stagnant demand and persistent grid constraints in …

Full content: Markets may have shrugged off the audacious U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, but some investors warn that geopolitical risks are perhaps being underestimated after Donald Trump threatened further action in the Americas. Investors held their nerve on Monday, …

Full content: Risk appetite among high-net-worth individuals has dropped sharply, according to a new high-net-worth outlook from HUB International. Per the report, only 25% of HNW individuals are willing to assume more risk for premium savings—down from 39% in 2023. HUB found …

Full content: Four people have been indicted in New Jersey for their alleged roles in a scheme to file fraudulent travel insurance claims worth more than $250,000. They are accused of taking out multiple travel insurance policies and then filing claims against …

Full content: A crew of concrete workers were put in danger during a recent home build in Spokane, prompting a Washington safety regulator to issue $300,000 in fines for exposing them to potential cave-ins and excavation hazards. The Washington State Department of …

Full content: The US Department of Agriculture unveiled long-awaited details of its $12 billion aid package for farmers, with American growers of rice and cotton standing to get the biggest payments. But while the payments were welcomed by farmers and industry groups …