Monthly Archives: <span>September 2020</span>

Power Company Plans Series Of Shutoffs To Prevent Wildfires

LOS ANGELES — One of California’s largest power companies announced Saturday it plans to temporarily shut off power to residents of 16 counties and a tribe to prevent wildfires sparked by electrical equipment. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. said it …

Residents Debate Mountain Living Amid Wildfire Concerns

RED FEATHER LAKES, Colo. — Amanda Harmon spent years dreaming of living in Colorado’s mountains. And she worked for it, too. Seven days a week, Harmon waited tables at a golf course and cleaned vacation rentals here, a remote community …

Hacked Software Provider Acknowledges Ransomware Attack

DALLAS — A major U.S. provider of software services to state and local governments acknowledged Friday that it was hit by a ransomware attack two days after telling clients an unknown intruder had compromised its phone and information technology systems. …

California Braces for Power Shutoffs and Warm, Windy Weekend

SAN FRANCISCO — Firefighters and officials at California’s largest utility company braced for hot, dry and windy weather in northern and central areas of the state this weekend that may fan the flames of several major wildfires or ignite new …

Plaintiffs Win One and Lose One in COVID-19 Business-Interruption Legal Fight

A federal judge in Florida last week denied an insurer’s petition to dismiss a COVID-19 business-interruption lawsuit, while a federal magistrate judge in California threw out a similar claim. Both lawsuits were filed by plaintiffs whose policies excluded coverage for …

Masks Are Coveted Items With Covid and Smoke Sweeping West Coast

Lindsey Major, wracked with asthma, crisscrossed Seattle in search of an N95 mask as wildfire smoke blanketed the West Coast. The 25-year-old from Mercer Island scoured stores. Pharmacies, big-box outlets, grocers — none had anything to offer. At work, a …

Lawyers Eye Neo-Nazi Website Founder’s Assets for $14M Award

Attorneys for a Montana real estate agent are eyeing the assets of a neo-Nazi website operator to collect a $14 million court judgment against the man for an anti-Semitic online “troll storm” that he orchestrated against the Jewish woman and …

Owner of Fire-Stricken Ship to Pay $1.8M for Sri Lankan Help

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — The owner of a large oil tanker that caught fire off Sri Lanka’s coast has agreed to pay $1.8 million to the island nation for its help in extinguishing the blaze, an official sad Thursday. MV …

Wildfires Taint West Coast Vineyards With Taste of Smoke

TURNER, Ore. — Smoke from the West Coast wildfires has tainted grapes in some of the nation’s most celebrated wine regions with an ashy flavor that could spell disaster for the 2020 vintage. Wineries in California, Oregon and Washington have …

Breach at Software Provider to Local Governments, Schools

DALLAS — A major provider of software services for governments and schools across the United States, Tyler Technologies, told customers Wednesday that an unknown intruder broke into its phone and information technology systems. It could not immediately be determined whether …