GALVESTON, Texas - It has been dubbed the "Ike Dike" — a 55-mile barrier, 17 feet high, that would be built along the Texas Gulf Coast to fend off the sort of devastating flooding inflicted by last year's Hurricane Ike. The ... [full story]

El Niño years typically result in fewer hurricanes forming in the Atlantic Ocean. But a new study suggests that the form of El Niño may be changing potentially causing not only a greater number of hurricanes than in average years, ... [full story]

RALEIGH, N.C. — Some North Carolina drivers will share in $50 million worth of refunds under an agreement announced Wednesday that will roll back private auto insurance rates to 2006 levels and freeze them for two years. State Insurance Commissioner Wayne ... [full story]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A large Alaska wildfire sparked by lightning more than three weeks ago continues to increase in size but firefighters are keeping the blaze from taking off. The Railbelt Complex fire 12 miles from Nenana is actually three ... [full story]

Despite falling policyholder surplus, insurers continued to compete vigorously for business in the second quarter of 2009, according to the quarterly RIMS Benchmark Survey, produced by New York-based Advisen Ltd. With the exception of directors and officers insurance premiums for financial ... [full story]

In the past few years discussion of failed banks has become a very popular topic and concern both in regional areas and on Capitol Hill. It’s also turned the Federal Deposit Insurance Company (FDIC) and its Chairman Shelia Bair into ... [full story]

A bill introduced Wednesday in the Senate would require states to write laws to prohibit text messaging by drivers or risk losing 25 percent of their annual federal highway money. The proposal, sponsored by a group of Democrats including Sen. ... [full story]

The impact of the financial services meltdown is evident all around the insurance industry. A new survey from Charlottesville, Va.-based SNL Financial leaves no doubt about the wounds the crisis has inflicted on the compensation of C-level insurance executives. ... [full story]

Four anti-fraud groups have written California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, criticizing his budget proposal to downgrade most insurance crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. The governor has advanced the idea as a method to save on prison costs. But, the organizations warned in their ... [full story]

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner on Monday said he will probe California’s domestic insurers to ensure they comply with a state law prohibiting companies based in the state from investing in Iran. “State law prohibits California insurance companies from investing ... [full story]