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Texas Tech Medical School Settles Suit Over Alleged Race-Based Admissions Practices

Article 0 Comments A group led by Stephen Miller, President Donald Trump’s deputy chief of staff, is claiming victory after it got a commitment from Texas Tech’s medical school not to consider race in admission decisions, which the school continues to deny ever doing. George Stewart sued Texas Tech University Health Science Center and five other medical schools in the state as well as their presidents, medical school deans and admission officers in 2023. Stewart, who had a 3.96 grade point average as an undergraduate at the University of Texas at Austin and scored a 511 on his MCAT, claimed the schools rejected him in favor of lesser qualified students of color. He said he obtained data from Tech that revealed it accepted Black and Hispanic students with much lower MCAT scores than white and Asian students. In a settlement agreement reached this month, Stewart agreed not to reapply to or to apply to work for Texas Tech and withdraw all his claims against the school. In exchange Texas Tech, which has denied any wrongdoing, promised not to consider race in admissions. Nick Barry, senior counsel at America First Legal, the group that represented Stewart, said in a statement that...

Accenture Invests in QuSecure to Protect Against Future Quantum Threats with Crypto Agility 0

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Accenture Invests in QuSecure to Protect Against Future Quantum Threats with Crypto Agility

New York, NY (Mar. 26, 2024) – Accenture is pleased to announce it has made a strategic investment, through Accenture Ventures, in QuSecure™ a leader in post-quantum cybersecurity. Together, Accenture and QuSecure offer comprehensive post-quantum crypto agility solutions to help government agencies and private sector businesses mitigate emerging quantum risks. Headquartered in San Mateo, Calif., QuSecure is a privately held company founded in 2019. QuSecure’s QuProtect software offers an end-to-end quantum security-as-a-service architecture that combines zero-trust, next-generation quantum-resilient technology and crypto agility to protect networks, cloud systems, edge devices and satellite communications against today’s cyberattacks and future quantum threats, all with minimal disruption to existing systems. “Organizations need a reliable, quantum-resilient cybersecurity solution that not only adheres to the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) post-quantum encryption standards but that can be easily integrated across all parts of a communications network,” said Tom Patterson, emerging technology security lead at Accenture. “We’re investing in trusted providers like QuSecure to help our clients future-proof their global networks today to protect high-risk data faster.” Post-quantum encryption standards protect a variety of electronic information, such as private email messages and e-commerce transactions. NIST is advising computer system administrators to start transitioning to NIST’s...

Vertafore Canada Enhances Broker Efficiency by Achieving CSIO’s eDocs Certification 0

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Vertafore Canada Enhances Broker Efficiency by Achieving CSIO’s eDocs Certification

Toronto, ON (Mar. 12, 2025) – CSIO is pleased to congratulate Vertafore Canada on achieving CSIO’s eDocs Certification by implementing the 40 updated eDocs codes and descriptions into their SIG Broker Management System (BMS). Vertafore programming the updated eDocs Standards ensures that descriptions are consistently labelled when insurers send eDocs to brokers. This is a significant advantage for brokers as it eliminates the need to open every eDoc to determine if action is required, saving them time and optimizing their workflows. Once the updated eDocs are released into production by their insurer partners, the latest codes and descriptions will be available to brokers in their BMS. “In a rapidly changing insurance landscape, we are firmly committed to integrating modern, simplified technology that drives automation in the broker distribution channel,” said Natasha Joyal, Senior Director of Development at Vertafore Canada. “Having deployed the changes in 2024, we are proud to earn the eDocs Certification as Vertafore Canada continuously strives to provide brokers with every opportunity for further enhancements to customer service and connectivity with insurers.” “CSIO’s eDocs initiative is a key industry priority to increase workflow efficiency for brokers,” said Kathryn Sinclair, Interim President at CSIO. “By implementing the updated eDocs...

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Guiding Clients Without Heirs | Key Strategies for Advisors

Pending approval: 1 CE Credit: CFP & Investments and Wealth Institute Sponsored by: Selecting beneficiaries, setting up trusts, and ensuring an estate aligns with personal values and philanthropic goals can be a challenge for anybody, but especially for those without heirs. Singles or couples without heirs face unique financial and estate planning challenges; they must determine how to distribute their wealth, make decisions about long-term care, and establish who will advocate for them in case of incapacity. Planning for aging without children to provide support adds complexity to healthcare and power of attorney decisions. However, technology and new tools can assist wealth advisors in guiding those couples through these critical decisions. Join this webcast to discover advanced solutions that streamline planning, enhance client engagement, and improve long-term financial outcomes. You’ll learn more about: How to ensure clients’ financial security and legacy planning needs are met with confidence Digital estate planning tools and AI-driven financial modeling Secure document management and virtual collaboration platforms How to leverage these technologies to create personalized strategies and optimize wealth transfers Featured Speakers: Scott Ferguson | Think Advisor Contributor | ALMScott Ferguson is the Director of Custom and Marketing Content for Think Advisor’s parent company, ALM....

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Canadian Man Sentenced for Shootings That Damaged Pipeline and Power Station in Dakotas

Article 0 Comments A Canadian man has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for shootings at an oil pipeline in South Dakota and an electrical substation in North Dakota that caused $1.7 million in damages after a judge found that his crimes met the definition of terrorism. Cameron Smith, 50, was also ordered Monday to pay more than $2.1 million in restitution, the Bismarck Tribune reported, as well as fines totaling $250,000. He faces deportation after his release. Smith, who is originally from the Toronto area but had been living in Astoria, Oregon, pleaded guilty last September to charges of destroying energy facilities for the incidents near Carpenter, South Dakota, in 2022 and in 2023 near Ray, North Dakota. U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor sentenced Smith to two consecutive 12 ½-year terms, far above federal sentencing guidelines that recommended 3 ½ to 4 ¼ years per count. Prosecutor David Hagler said the higher sentence was justified because Smith’s actions met the definition of terrorism by “attempting to intimidate or coerce a civilian population.” Defense attorney Douglas Passon argued against the longer sentence, describing Smith as a “hyper-aware individual wanting to create awareness about climate change” who intentionally avoided...

Westland Insurance acquires Saskatchewan-based Loewen Agencies Ltd. 0

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Westland Insurance acquires Saskatchewan-based Loewen Agencies Ltd.

Westland Insurance expands into three new communities Surrey, BC (Mar. 6, 2025) – Westland Insurance, one of Canada’s leading independent insurance brokerages, has acquired Loewen Agencies Ltd. effective March 1, 2025. With this acquisition, Westland gains Loewen Agencies trusted reputation and strong community ties, allowing it to enhance its offerings and serve more clients. Loewen Agencies serves the Radville, Ceylon, and Minton communities with coverage for properties, vehicles, businesses, and farm insurance. Loewen Agencies has been a trusted part of these communities since 1947, built on a legacy of exceptional advice and client service. The integration of Loewen Agencies into Westland’s operations will ensure that clients continue to receive the high level of service they’ve come to expect, while also gaining access to a broader range of insurance products and resources. “I’m extremely pleased to welcome Loewen Agencies to the Westland team,” said Jamie Lyons, Westland’s President & CEO. “This is an exciting step in our growth journey. Supporting rural communities across Canada with their insurance needs is an important part of our business model at Westland. We look forward to welcoming their talented team and to continue providing outstanding service in these new communities that they’ve served for decades.”...

Flume Partners with HSB to Provide Homeowners with Advanced Water Leak Protection 0

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Flume Partners with HSB to Provide Homeowners with Advanced Water Leak Protection

Innovative Technology to Safeguard Homes from Water Damage Flume’s IoT-enabled flow-based monitoring service now available through HSB’s partner ecosystem Water leak detection system provides 24/7 protection for homeowners Real-time mobile alerts help prevent costly water damage Partnership expands Flume’s reach to insurance clients across the country Hartford, CT (Mar. 6, 2025) – Flume, a leader in smart home water leak detection, is pleased to announce an exciting new partnership with HSB to offer its advanced flow-based water leak detection service to homeowners through HSB’s extensive network of insurance providers and partners. Flume’s Home Water Protection Service is designed to protect homes from the devastating effects of water damage, a leading cause of property loss. By using a single sensor that straps to a home’s existing water meter, Flume monitors water flow in real-time, immediately detecting leaks and sending instant alerts to homeowners via a mobile app. Through this collaboration, HSB will introduce Flume’s innovative water protection system to its clients, expanding the availability of cutting-edge technology to homeowners seeking to mitigate the risk of water damage. “We’re excited to join forces with HSB, an industry leader committed to integrating the latest technologies into insurance solutions,” said Eric Adler, co-founder of Flume....

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People Moves: Arch Insurance Names 2 Senior Leaders for Casualty Team in Spain

Article 0 Comments Arch Insurance Names 2 Senior Leaders for Casualty Team in Spain Arch Insurance announced the appointments of Carmen Cobeta as head of Casualty, Spain, and Irene Fernandez Franic as senior casualty underwriter, effective immediately. Cobeta and Fernandez Franic join Arch Insurance (EU) dac (AIEU), which provides specialist property and casualty insurance solutions within the European Union. Based in Madrid, they are responsible for growing Arch’s casualty portfolio in Spain and Portugal, writing primary, umbrella and excess liability cover across a broad range of sectors including industrial, manufacturing and rail. With over 20 years of casualty experience, Cobeta joins from QBE Europe where she was most recently regional broker relationship manager. Prior to this she was a liability portfolio manager and a senior casualty underwriter at QBE Europe and has also held underwriting roles at Chubb. Fernandez Franic joins from Howden, where she was most recently Head of International Construction and has over 20 years of experience within the insurance market. She has also held broking and underwriting roles at Aon, Generali and QBE Europe. Topics Leadership Casualty Was this article valuable? Thank you! Please tell us what we can do to improve this article. Submit No Thanks...

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People Moves: TFI Announces Executive Team Promotions; Brown & Riding Adds Murphree to Transportation Practice

Article 0 Comments Texas First Insurance announced the promotions of Jerry Blystone to Chief Executive Officer and Bryan Burkhart to President. Having celebrated 100 years in business earlier this year, these promotions position the independent insurance agency for continued growth and success over the next century. TFI Executive Leadership at the 100th Celebration. Back L-to-R: Bryan Burkhart (President), Sheila Sanders-Gillespie (COO), Jerry Blystone (CEO); Front: Matthew Doyle (Chairman) Blystone joined Texas First Insurance (TFI) 38 years ago as a Producer and was named President of the agency in 2018. He has a deep understanding of insurance operations, the agency’s customers, and its community. Additionally, he has led the agency to record-setting growth, including the establishment of offices in the Houston, Conroe, and Beaumont markets. In his new role as CEO, Blystone is responsible for overseeing the overall strategy and direction of the agency, ensuring TFI continues to deliver exceptional service to its customers, supports the local community, and maintains its position as a trusted and respected insurance agency in Texas. A native of Galveston County, Burkhart joined TFI in 2018 as an Executive Producer with over a decade of sales experience. He was promoted to Chief Strategy Officer in 2022...