18May/12
4.3 quake shakes up East Texas
A 4.3-magnitude earthquake rattled eastern Texas early Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The quake, at a depth of three miles, was centered near Timpson, about 155 miles east-southeast of Dallas, according to the USGS. It struck at 3:12 a.m. (4:13 a.m. ET). At least one building in Timpson showed damage, with a number of bricks falling to the street below, CNN affiliate KLTV in Tyler, Texas, reported. Ollie Barrett told KLTV that bricks from her chimney came crashing through her roof.
18May/12
4.3 quake shakes up East Texas
A 4.3-magnitude earthquake rattled eastern Texas early Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The quake, at a depth of three miles, was centered near Timpson, about 155 miles east-southeast of Dallas, according to the USGS. It struck at 3:12 a.m. (4:13 a.m. ET). At least one building in Timpson showed damage, with a number of bricks falling to the street below, CNN affiliate KLTV in Tyler, Texas, reported. Ollie Barrett told KLTV that bricks from her chimney came crashing through her roof.
18May/12
Scammers collected insurance on same burned furniture over and over, authorities say
The ringleaders behind a $1.4 million insurance scam veered little from the script that worked the first time in 2007, authorities say. To start, they found accomplices who rented big houses in South Miami-Dade, which they then filled with used furniture, clothing and other items from stores like Goodwill, authorities say. Then they took out renter’s insurance policies. After a few months, these renters would “accidentally” leave a candle burning next to a fake plant or some other flammable item, sparking a fire that would burn the homes’ interior.
18May/12
Scammers collected insurance on same burned furniture over and over, authorities say
The ringleaders behind a $1.4 million insurance scam veered little from the script that worked the first time in 2007, authorities say. To start, they found accomplices who rented big houses in South Miami-Dade, which they then filled with used furniture, clothing and other items from stores like Goodwill, authorities say. Then they took out renter’s insurance policies. After a few months, these renters would “accidentally” leave a candle burning next to a fake plant or some other flammable item, sparking a fire that would burn the homes’ interior.
18May/12
Honda’s Acura recalls over 52,000 cars in U.S.
Honda Motor Co Ltd’s Acura brand is recalling 52,615 TL sedans from model years 2007 and 2008 in the United States to replace the power steering hose that could leak over time and potentially cause a fire. Acura said the hose may deteriorate and leak over time. Leaking fluid could lead to a loss of power steering assistance or could cause smoke and fire, the Japanese automaker said. Acura said no crashes, injuries or fires have been reported related to the issue.
18May/12
Honda’s Acura recalls over 52,000 cars in U.S.
Honda Motor Co Ltd’s Acura brand is recalling 52,615 TL sedans from model years 2007 and 2008 in the United States to replace the power steering hose that could leak over time and potentially cause a fire. Acura said the hose may deteriorate and leak over time. Leaking fluid could lead to a loss of power steering assistance or could cause smoke and fire, the Japanese automaker said. Acura said no crashes, injuries or fires have been reported related to the issue.
18May/12
2011 crop insurance claims approach $11 billion
Losses paid out by crop insurance companies to farmers for 2011 crops have now exceeded $10.7 billion and are edging ever closer to the $11 billion mark, according to data from the Risk Management Agency (RMA). This surpasses the previous record of $8.76 billion set in 2008 by almost 25 percent.Spurred on by one of the worst weather years in history, farmers and ranchers faced unparalleled challenges in 2011 and crop insurance reached record amounts. The numbers paint a picture of Mother Nature’s devastation that befell farmers from coast to coast.
18May/12
One Year After Joplin Tornadoes $2.16 Billion In Insurance Claims Payouts Are Helping Missouri Recover
The tornado that swept through Joplin, Missouri, on May 22, 2011, caused 158 fatalities and generated $2.16 billion in insurance claims payouts to Missouri policyholders, according to an Insurance Information Institute analysis of data from ISO’s Property Claims Service (PCS) and other sources. "The people of Joplin, Missouri, endured a great tragedy on May 22, 2011, as the site of a tornado that resulted in the greatest single loss of life since such records began being kept in the United States," said Dr. Robert Hartwig, president of the I.I.I. and an economist.
18May/12
Injured firefighters recovering after condo blaze
The two firefighters who suffered injuries in the large two-alarm blaze at a condo building in Southwest Portland Wednesday were recovering from burns and a broken hand, fire officials said. A third firefighter fell through the roof as it collapsed under him. Kurtis Sommer landed on a rafter about four feet down and amazingly, was not injured. "Luckily the fire was in the phase that it was in, because if he would have fallen through, and now it is an opening and the heat is going to exhaust, he’s gonna be in a serious, serious situation," explained Todd Keathley, the Safety Chief for Portland Fire & Rescue.
17May/12
Woof! California Top Dog In Bites
California is the top dog in State Farm’s annual list of dog bite claims, and the state’s reported 527 dog bite claims and more than $20 million paid out in 2011 by the Bloomington, Ill.-based carrier represents an increase of more than 30 percent from last year. This year’s figure represents an increase in bite claims. In 2010 State Farm reported 401 dog bite claims in California, according to company spokesman Eddie Martinez, who didn’t have a good explanation for the increase.