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Archive: July 2026

Texas Hill Country Floods Test New Warning Systems After Last Year’s Deadly Disaster
Insurance Journal | July 20, 2026
Texas Hill Country Floods Test New Warning Systems After Last Year’s Deadly Disaster
After deadly floods killed more than 100 people in Texas’ Hill Country last July, officials vowed major changes in hopes of preventing the failures that contributed to the high death toll. They promised better flood warning systems, tighter safety rules …
Yemen’s Houthis to Impose Maritime Blockade on Saudi Arabia
Insurance Journal | July 20, 2026
Yemen’s Houthis to Impose Maritime Blockade on Saudi Arabia
The Houthis, an Iran-backed Yemeni group, said they would impose a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, putting at risk the flow of millions of barrels that the kingdom exports via the Red Sea. The blockade is in response to what …
New Jersey E-Bike Registration, Insurance Requirements Now in Effect
Insurance Journal | July 20, 2026
New Jersey E-Bike Registration, Insurance Requirements Now in Effect
Sunday July 19 was the deadline for most New Jersey electric bicycle owners to register their e-bikes and obtain liability insurance required under a new law. New Jersey’s new e-bike law classifies all e-bikes principally garaged in the state as …
Private Equity Backing AGI, an AI-Enabled Platform for Faster Brokerage Growth
Insurance Journal | July 20, 2026
Private Equity Backing AGI, an AI-Enabled Platform for Faster Brokerage Growth
Despite growing concerns about private-equity-backed ventures and the use of artificial intelligence, an Atlanta-based firm said it has launched an AI-enabled platform designed to help insurance brokerage partners grow at faster rates. American Growth Insurance (known as AGI) announced last …
Viewpoint: Do Heart Attack Patients Have More Micro and Nanoplastics in Their Blood?
Insurance Journal | July 20, 2026
Viewpoint: Do Heart Attack Patients Have More Micro and Nanoplastics in Their Blood?
Microplastics are a big environmental issue. They’ve been found in oceans, drinking water, seafood, the air we breathe, and increasingly throughout the human body, from the placenta to the brain. A new study by researchers in Italy, published in the …
Dynacom Vessel Catches Fire Near Oman After Projectile Hit
Insurance Journal | July 20, 2026
Dynacom Vessel Catches Fire Near Oman After Projectile Hit
A vessel operated by Greek shipping firm Dynacom caught fire after it was struck by an unknown projectile 8 nautical miles northwest of Oman’s Kumzar overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, maritime security officials said on Monday. It is the latest …
Update: Iran and US Widen Attacks, Raising Fears for Gulf Shipping and Water Supplies
Insurance Journal | July 20, 2026
Update: Iran and US Widen Attacks, Raising Fears for Gulf Shipping and Water Supplies
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Monday they had struck U.S. military assets across the Middle East after another night of U.S. bombardment of Iranian cities, part of a cycle of attacks that has all but wrecked an interim ceasefire agreement. …
UK Financial Services Firms Sharpen Staff Scrutiny as New Misconduct Regime Looms
Insurance Journal | July 20, 2026
UK Financial Services Firms Sharpen Staff Scrutiny as New Misconduct Regime Looms
Financial firms in Britain are sharpening their focus on employee conduct, with some weeding out staff suspected of misconduct such as harassment and bullying ahead of new rules designed to curb an industry lawmakers have called a hotbed of abuse …
Ohio-Based Toy Manufacturer Sued for Discrimination and Retaliation
Insurance Journal | July 20, 2026
Ohio-Based Toy Manufacturer Sued for Discrimination and Retaliation
Step2 Company, LLC, a toy and plastic products manufacturer with plants in Northern Ohio, violated federal law by failing to provide reasonable accommodations to a pregnant employee with disabilities and firing her, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged …
Federal Appeals Court Rules New Jersey’s Assault Weapons Ban Is Unconstitutional
Insurance Journal | July 19, 2026
Federal Appeals Court Rules New Jersey’s Assault Weapons Ban Is Unconstitutional
A federal appeals court ruled Friday that New Jersey’s bans on assault firearms and magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds are unconstitutional. This is the first time a federal appeals court has struck down a state ban on …