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Global Shark Attacks Up in 2011

A new report finds that fatal shark attacks worldwide last year reach their highest level in two decades, though there were none in the U.S. The University of Florida released its International Shark Attack File report for 2011 on Tuesday. …

Smoke Alarm Sales Jump After Deadly Connecticut Fire

Owners of several stores in Connecticut communities near a deadly Christmas morning fire are reporting a noticeable jump in purchases of smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and escape ladders. The Time of Greenwich reports some hardware store owners say people also …

Red Light Runners Increasing in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Red light cameras in Albuquerque, N.M., have been off two weeks and already police are reporting an uptick in drivers who run red lights. Albuquerque police say camera citations between Nov. 7 and Dec. 12 jumped about 12 percent over …

U.S. Police Fatalities Up 13 Percent in 2011

One Oregon police chief was killed when a man allegedly took the officer’s gun and shot him in the head. A policeman in Arizona was fatally shot when he went to a suburban Phoenix apartment complex to help a probation …

Home Insurance Claims Increase During the Holidays

Christmas is almost here again, bringing with it all the usual parties, presents, food and drink. But according to data supplied by London-based John Lewis Specialist Home Insurance, the number of home insurance claims increases during the festive period. From …

Crop Insurance Rates Skyrocket After Summer Floods

Midwestern farmers who saw their land swamped by summer flooding may be socked again with steep increases in their crop insurance premiums, the expensive result of the failure to fix broken levees before the winter snow and next spring’s rains. …

NHTSA Survey: Texting by Drivers up 50 Percent in 2010

New federal safety data shows texting while driving increased 50 percent last year, despite a rush by states to ban the practice. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does an annual survey that watches drivers’ behavior at selected intersections. The …

State Farm Receives Approval to Increase Louisiana Homeowner Rates

Louisiana’s largest insurer of homes has received state approval to boost rates by an average 7.8 percent. State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. says the $32.2 million rate hike goes into effect with new policies on Feb. 15 and renewal …

North Dakota City Police See Increase in Crimes

Dickinson, N.D., police say the workload in its criminal investigations unit has risen dramatically in the last year. Sgt. Dave Wilkie told city commissioners that the unit has seen a 400 percent increase in burglary investigations over the last year. …

Claimed Auto Injury Losses in N.Y. Metro Area Rose 70% in 10 Years

Personal injury protection (PIP) claims closed in 2010 show that claimed losses for medical expenses, lost wages, and other expenses from auto accident injuries in the New York City area rose 70 percent over the past decade. This surpasses the …