Monthly Archives: <span>October 2016</span>

Texas Workers’ Comp Fraud Unit Boasts 40 Investigations Since Inception

Since its establishment five months ago, the new in-house fraud unit at the Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation has opened more than 40 investigations and hired additional fraud investigators to extend its reach. “It’s a huge benefit to have a …

Minnesota Sees Major Drop in Fire Deaths From 2015

Fire deaths in Minnesota have decreased this year, down dramatically from 2015. State Fire Marshal Bruce West told Minnesota Public Radio News that there have been 24 deaths from fires so far this year, compared with 49 at this time …

Louisiana Law Can Shield Priests From Reporting Evidence of Abuse

Louisiana law does not require a priest to notify authorities after hearing evidence of child abuse from a child making a religious confession, the state Supreme Court said Friday. The ruling came in an ongoing 2009 lawsuit against Catholic authorities …

Study Predicts Deserts Will Develop if Global Warming Continues

Southern Spain will become desert and deciduous forests will vanish from much of the Mediterranean basin unless global warming is reined in sharply, according to a study released Thursday. Researchers used historical data and computer models to forecast the likely …

Study Finds $600M Plus in Property Losses Averted by Coastal Wetlands

As communities across the Southeast U.S. and the Caribbean count the cost of flood damage during Hurricane Matthew, a study, Coastal Wetlands and Flood Damage Reduction, has quantified how much protection natural coastal habitats provide during hurricanes. Using the latest …

Frequent Casino Bus Crashes Draws More Safety Scrutiny

Rosa Ruiz returned from a gambling jaunt to San Diego, Calif., before dawn Saturday and was back on another bus that evening, headed for a desert casino. Like others who routinely board buses bound for distant casinos, Ruiz wasn’t so …

New Warning Signs at Kansas Dam Where Man Drowned

Wichita, Kansas, has installed new, larger warning signs at an Arkansas River dam where a 24-year-old man drowned earlier this year. Brian Bergkamp drowned in July at Wichita’s 21st Street dam as he tried to help another kayaker. The group …

State Lawmakers Focus on Errors, Drug Use in N.J. Transit Probe

New Jersey Transit has until Oct. 28 to disclose to lawmakers the agency’s progress on installing accident-prevention technology, release figures on substance-abuse-related accidents and detail penalties for violating federal rules. The directive came from a joint state legislative panel armed …

Evidence of Declining Costs Prompts Jones to Request Workers’ Comp Rate Reduction

After finding that costs to insurers in the workers’ compensation system are declining, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones asked that workers’ comp insurers pass those cost savings on to employers in the form of lower rates. Commissioner Jones issued a …

Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew Leads Businesses to Focus on Preparedness

The ravages of Hurricane Matthew are prompting businesses to rethink their natural hazards preparedness, with more than one out of four surveyed employees in the stricken region saying they believe their companies will increase investment in the area. Matthew was …