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Verisk Brings Its Trusted Analytics and Generative AI Capabilities Directly into Anthropic’s Claude 0

Verisk Brings Its Trusted Analytics and Generative AI Capabilities Directly into Anthropic’s Claude

New Verisk Model Context Protocol (MCP) connectors enable conversational, natural-language interactions, provide contextual access to Verisk’s trusted insurance analytics inside enterprise AI environments. Enables underwriting and claims professionals to access Verisk’s regulatory-grade data within Claude, surfacing relevant insights and reducing manual tasks. AI-enabled insurance workflows with embedded governance and security controls that reinforce trust, ensure humans remain at the center of every decision. Jersey City, NJ (May 5, 2026) – Verisk, a leading strategic data analytics and technology partner to the global insurance industry, is pleased to announce its trusted insurance analytics are now available in Claude, Anthropic’s family of AI models, through standardized Verisk Model Context Protocol (MCP) connectors. These connectors enable insurance and property restoration professionals to access insights conversationally within a secure, governed environment, and bring meaningful efficiency. Verisk’s analytics and solutions are used by U.S. property & casualty insurers, including the top 100 insurers, as well as global insurers, reinsurers and brokers. This deep understanding of essential processes, platforms, and workflows positions Verisk to responsibly support the next evolution of how insurance professionals engage with trusted data and analytics through AI. Building on this foundation, Verisk MCP connectors simplify access to insurance analytics, surfacing contextual insights...

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Ohio Man Sentenced for Causing $860K in Computer Fraud Losses

Article 0 Comments A 36-year-old Ohio man has been sentenced for computer fraud after causing more than $860,000 in losses, Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck announced. Maxwell Schultz, Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty Nov. 18, 2025. Senior U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered him to serve 24 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard about the damage and sophistication of the attack and how Schultz used another employee’s account to mask his intrusion which led to the investigation of that account initially. In handing down the sentence, Judge Rosenthal noted this is not the appropriate reaction to being fired. Schultz was also ordered to pay $862,516.74 in restitution. On May 14, 2021, Schultz was terminated from his position as a contract employee in his company’s information technology department. Shortly after, he accessed the company’s network by impersonating another contractor to obtain login credentials. He ran a PowerShell script that reset approximately 2,500 passwords, locking thousands of employees and contractors out of their computers nationwide. Schultz also searched for ways to delete logs, PowerShell window events and cleared multiple system logs. The attack to the...

Most Canadians Aren’t Ready for a Disaster: Do you Have an Emergency Kit? 0

Most Canadians Aren’t Ready for a Disaster: Do you Have an Emergency Kit?

Mississauga, ON (May 5, 2026) – As wildfires, floods, and extreme storms intensify across Canada, a new survey from First Onsite Property Restoration finds that most people are not ready for them. Just over one in four Canadians (28 per cent) have an emergency kit prepared—even as awareness of climate-driven risk has never been higher. Released during Emergency Preparedness Week (May 3–9), the findings arrive as Public Safety Canada and partners are calling on Canadians to “Be Prepared and Know Your Risks.” The survey findings highlight a clear disconnect between awareness and action. Three quarters of Canadians (75 per cent) say they know where to find official weather emergency information and alerts. Yet only 38 per cent feel they are prepared for a weather-related emergency. The gap is perhaps sharpest when it comes to basic preparedness. Just 36 per cent of Canadians – homeowners and businesses alike – know their local evacuation routes. This is striking for a country that has watched wildfires, floods, and major storms reshape communities in recent years. Two thirds of Canadians (67 per cent) believe all levels of government could be doing more on disaster preparedness, while only 44 per cent feel confident in their...

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Crypto Crime Escalates With Kidnappings, Cons and Human Coercion

Article 0 Comments After a year of kidnappings, assaults and armed home invasions targeting cryptocurrency holders, the industry is racing to harden its defenses. Conferences are beefing up security. Private firms serving crypto holders say demand has surged. Exchanges are protecting their executives. The defensive stance was on display at the Bitcoin 2026 conference in Las Vegas last month, where many of the highest-profile speakers moved through the venue trailed by personal bodyguards. A standing-room-only workshop taught attendees how to protect their crypto holdings during a home invasion. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, The Venetian Resort security team, external contractors and private security all worked together to provide protection, according to Justin Doochin, head of events at BTC Inc., the conference organizer. A few weeks earlier, at Paris Blockchain Week, guests had been escorted by police motorcade to a VIP dinner and organizers had doubled security around the two-day event. Read more: Crypto Traders Seek Out Extra Security as Kidnappings Rise The technology’s defining transparency, which its adherents have long celebrated as a structural improvement on the opaque plumbing of traditional finance, is the same feature that lets a criminal identify a target. Physical attacks on cryptocurrency holders rose...

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Michigan Secures Settlement With Car Financing Company Over Auto-Repair Agreements

Article 0 Comments Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has secured an agreement with West Creek Financial, Inc., a Virginia corporation doing business under the name Koalafi, to resolve allegations that the lease-to-own financing company violated the Michigan Consumer Protection Act and Rental-Purchase Agreement Act. Under the Assurance of Voluntary Compliance and Discontinuance, West Creek Financial will pay $3.25 million to the Department of Attorney General. The settlement will primarily be used to provide restitution to eligible Michigan consumers who entered into auto-repair lease-to-own agreements with the company. The Department began investigating West Creek Financial in 2024 following consumer complaints that lease-to-own agreements, traditionally meant for the lease and acquisition of goods, were being used for auto-repair transactions, including labor, parts, and fluids. As part of the agreement, West Creek Financial will pay $3.25 million for consumer restitution and administrative costs. The distribution of restitution payments will be handled through a settlement administrator. Consumers who are eligible for restitution will receive notice from the settlement administrator with information on how to submit a claim. Within 45 days, the company is also required to ensure that lease-to-own agreements are not used to pay for auto-repair-related parts and services. Consumers who previously entered...

SIB Expands Client Offering with the Acquisition of 21st Century Travel Insurance Limited 0

SIB Expands Client Offering with the Acquisition of 21st Century Travel Insurance Limited

Ancaster, ON (May 4, 2026) – SIB Corp. is pleased to announce the acquisition of 21st Century Travel Insurance Limited, led by industry veteran Jeff Pudwell. This initiative represents a strategic enhancement of SIB’s product suite, further strengthening its ability to meet the evolving, everyday insurance needs of its clients. 21st Century Travel specializes in travel insurance solutions, offering comprehensive inbound and outbound travel coverage options for individuals and families across Canada. Through this partnership, SIB will integrate travel insurance into its existing platform, enabling brokers across its network to deliver a more complete and seamless client experience. Jeff Pudwell, President of 21st Century Travel, will remain with the business and continue to lead its growth strategy. “Partnering with SIB provides an exciting opportunity to scale our offering and reach a broader client base,” said Pudwell. “I’m excited to continue building the business alongside SIB and to ensure 21st Century Travel remains a leading travel insurance MGA in Canada.” “Expanding into travel insurance is a natural progression for SIB as we continue to build a full-service brokerage platform,” said Ted Puccini, President of SIB. “Our clients rely on us to protect what matters most in their daily lives. Adding travel...

Financial pressure shaping workers’ health needs: Beneva 0

Financial pressure shaping workers’ health needs: Beneva

Quebec City, QC (May 4, 2026) – In light of persistent inflation, rising housing costs and economic uncertainty, financial stress is now an important health marker. This is just one of the key findings highlighted in Beneva’s Health Report, which analyzes group insurance plan usage trends across different age groups and highlights how financial pressure influences behaviour, healthcare needs and the employee experience. Needs that change through life Beneva’s analysis reveals that financial pressure and its impact on health varies at every stage of life, with a similar path from one generation to the next. Since coverage needs change from one age group to the next, group insurance must respond to evolving life stages and high-impact events that transcend age. Young adults (ages 18-30): Cost of living, job insecurity and social comparison fuel early financial anxiety, leading to the growing demand for quick access to psychological support as well as the recognition of mental health issues. Mid-life adults (ages 31-50): The growing number of responsibilities compounds time pressures and access to care. Delays in receiving care can lead to worsening health problems, with increasing repercussions on costs and work continuity. Pre-retirees (ages 51-65): When preparing for retirement, the focus turns...

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IICF Names Lowery-Biggers CEO

Article 0 Comments The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) announced the appointment of LoriAnn V. Lowery-Biggers as CEO. Lowery-Biggers brings more than 30 years of experience to the role, having previously served as president of Lloyd’s North America along with executive leadership positions at The Navigators Group, Inc., Wells Fargo Insurance, Inc. and Marsh McLennan Companies, Inc. Lowery-Biggers She succeeds Bill Ross as IICF CEO, who will be developing a multi-year strategy with the IICF staff and executive team in the coming months. As CEO, Lowery-Biggers will be responsible for overseeing IICF’s overall operations and strategic direction and she will report to the IICF Board of Governors. Lowery-Biggers serves as a non-executive director on the boards of BMS Investment Holding Company, Brown & Riding Insurance, Inc., CompRe Insurance Group Holdings Limited and Copper Point Mutual Insurance Holding Company. “This is an important moment in insurance and giving back. The uniqueness of IICF as a foundation that unites an entire industry through philanthropic impact is highly compelling and presents many creative opportunities,” said Lowery-Biggers. “I see this as IICF’s time to build upon three decades of the foundation’s excellence and carry it forward through a disciplined, evolving strategy that inspires our...

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Consumers Sue Amazon for Not Refunding Trump Tariff Costs

Article 0 Comments Amazon.com Inc was sued on Friday by consumers seeking refunds for costs passed on to them in the form of higher prices as a result of tariffs the U.S. Supreme Court later concluded had been unlawfully imposed by President Donald Trump. Consumers in a proposed class action filed in federal court in Seattle alleged that the e-commerce giant collected hundreds of millions of dollars in unlawful tariff costs by raising prices on imported goods before the Supreme Court had ruled. The U.S. Supreme Court in February concluded in a 6-3 decision that Trump overstepped his authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose his sweeping tariffs. Thousands of companies have begun to seek billions of dollars in refunds from the government following the ruling. But Amazon has not, which the lawsuit alleged was “not because it lacks a legal basis to do so, but because it seeks to curry favor with Trump by allowing the federal government to retain the funds.” “The problem is that the funds Amazon is using to stay in the President’s good graces do not belong to Amazon,” the lawsuit says. “These funds were wrongfully taken from consumers to cover...

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Walmart to Pay $230K in Illinois Disability Hiring Discrimination Settlement

Article 0 Comments Walmart agreed to pay $230,000 and furnish other relief to settle a disability hiring discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced. According to the EEOC’s suit, a deaf applicant applied online for a stocking position at a Walmart in Decatur, Illinois. When an associate responsible for screening applicants from Walmart reached out to him to set up an interview, the deaf applicant requested an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter. Walmart’s screener said she would work on getting the interpreter but failed to follow up, even after he called back again to check on the status of his interview. Instead, three other hearing applicants were hired for the stocking position around the same time, and Walmart never contacted the deaf applicant again. The company’s alleged conduct violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois (EEOC v. Walmart Stores, Inc., and Walmart Stores East, LP, Civil Action No. 21-cv-02080) after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its administrative conciliation process. The district court rejected Walmart’s motion for summary judgment, and the case was set for trial...