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Ecclesiastical Insurance Releases New Risk Bulletin on Property Security and Theft Prevention 0

Ecclesiastical Insurance Releases New Risk Bulletin on Property Security and Theft Prevention

Toronto, ON (Jan. 15, 2026) – Ecclesiastical Insurance has released a new risk management resource aimed at helping community-serving organizations reduce theft and property damage losses, emphasizing that many incidents develop over time when small security gaps go unnoticed. The new bulletin, Property Security and Theft Prevention – A Practical Risk Management Guide, provides practical, standards-informed guidance for organizations including faith communities, non-profits, educational institutions, and heritage properties. It outlines preventative measures that can reduce theft risk while also limiting the damage commonly associated with forced entry. “Too often, organizations think about security only after a loss,” said Colin Robertson, Chief Risk Management & Customer Officer at Ecclesiastical Insurance. “This bulletin is designed to shift that mindset, helping organizations identify vulnerabilities early and take practical steps to protect the spaces, assets, and people that support their mission.” The bulletin includes guidance on: Conducting effective security and theft risk assessments Strengthening perimeter, access, and physical security Protecting high-value and vulnerable assets Using alarms, CCTV, and security guarding strategically Aligning security measures with applicable codes and standards “Security is stewardship,” Robertson added. “Proactive planning doesn’t just reduce loss, it helps ensure these organizations can continue serving their communities without disruption.” Access the...

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Thousands of East Texans Remain Without Power After Winter Storm

Article 0 Comments Thousands of East Texans remain without power days after a winter storm paralyzed most of the state over the weekend. Many may be without power until Sunday as utility workers traverse icy roads in dense forests to restore power. Winter Storm Fern spread across the U.S. from New Mexico to the Northeast over the weekend, leaving thick layers of ice and snow in its wake. Residents across Texas saw temperatures drop below freezing and power outages that lasted anywhere from a few minutes to days. East Texas was the only region in Texas to lose power for an extended period of time. Misty Gulley, a school cafeteria worker in Panola County, has been without power since 7:30 a.m. Saturday. She has relied on a gas-powered generator to keep warm. “Once I run out of gas, I’ll be in trouble,” she said. “Going to get more is an issue with road conditions, and the cost to keep it running is an issue.” Panola County is part of the stretch of counties near the Louisiana border that remain without power. Shelby County, which is directly south of Panola County and home to about 24,000 people, saw the most ice...

Hard to Place, Easy to Protect: Giving Vulnerable Homeowners a Fighting Chance 0

Hard to Place, Easy to Protect: Giving Vulnerable Homeowners a Fighting Chance

By Jerry Fairborn, National Sales Manager, Commercial, Moen Canada — Across Canada, more and more homeowners are finding that insurance is no longer a given. Properties once considered standard are being reclassified as risk exposures due to climate volatility, aging infrastructure, and escalating repair costs. In many regions, securing or renewing home coverage has become increasingly difficult, especially for those in flood-prone zones or older neighbourhoods. For insurance brokers, this presents an urgent challenge: how to help clients stay protected when traditional underwriting appetite is shrinking. Amid these pressures, one solution stands out: leak prevention through intelligent water management. By integrating smart water technology, brokers and insurers can redefine what “insurable” means, offering homeowners tangible proof of proactive risk control When Risk Becomes Routine Water damage remains the leading cause of property loss in Canada, responsible for more claims than fire or theft combined, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC).  IBC’s October 2025 Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. data shows insured losses exceeded $9 billion in 2024, much of it due to flooding, rain, and sewer backup. But most losses stem not from weather, but from everyday incidents: burst pipes, leaking appliances, or undetected drips behind walls. These...

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Trump Orders Federal Takeover of LA Wildfire Rebuilding Efforts

Article 0 Comments President Donald Trump signed an executive order that allows the federal government to preempt state and local regulations in the recovery efforts of last year’s Los Angeles wildfires, blaming the destruction and its slow rebuilding on California’s authorities. “Immediate and decisive federal action is required to ensure that federal disaster assistance is delivered and utilized swiftly, effectively, and without obstruction by state and local governments,” according to the executive order. Related: The Return Period for An LA Wildfire-Scale Event May Be Shorter Than You Think Nearly 40,000 acres were burned in the Eaton and Palisades wildfires last January, killing at least 31 people and destroying 16,000 structures. Estimates of economic and property losses range as high as $131 billion. The order once again pits Trump against California Governor Gavin Newsom, a key political rival and potential Democratic candidate for president in 2028. Newsom criticized Trump’s measure, saying “an executive order to rebuild Mars” would be just as useful, in a post on X. The governor said permitting timelines are at least twice as fast as than before the fires. Newsom and a bipartisan group of California lawmakers have asked for $33.9 billion in federal disaster assistance to...

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US Deep Freeze Wreaks Havoc on Texas Oil Producers and Refiners

Article 0 Comments A massive winter storm that swept the US over the weekend crippled oil and gas producers and the industrial plants that refine the raw commodities into everything from gasoline to plastics. Refinery flares lit up the Houston Ship Channel late Sunday and into Monday morning as a cold front hit the Texas coast and plunged temperatures below freezing. Plants operated by INEOS, Pemex, Shell and LyondellBasell all reported flaring gases, a common safety measure when severe weather causes operational disruptions. Several plants, including ExxonMobil’s Baytown mega refinery and Goodyear’s Bayport chemicals facility, curtailed operations Saturday ahead of the freeze. The waterway connecting Houston’s refineries to crude imports and global export markets for their products closed Saturday as the cold front approached and partially re-opened Monday morning. Weather-related refinery issues weren’t just contained to East Houston’s industrial corridor. One of INEOS’s plants on the Texas coast was truck by lighting as the winter storm approached the facility, tripping the site off line, according to a regulatory filing. Farther north in Illinois, where refineries are designed to operated in colder temperatures, Phillips 66’s Wood River plant reported a leak in a piping system due to the winter storm, the...

Trufla Launches PolicyPro, Its Rapidly Growing Policy Administration Services Arm 0

Trufla Launches PolicyPro, Its Rapidly Growing Policy Administration Services Arm

Toronto, ON (Jan. 14, 2026) – Trufla is officially launching PolicyPro, a dedicated offshore back-office and policy administration service designed to help insurance brokerages reduce operational strain and refocus licensed staff on clients, retention, and growth. Built by former broker operational leaders and backed by Trufla’s established infrastructure, PolicyPro provides trained, insurance-focused offshore teams that integrate directly into brokerage workflows and systems. The service delivers immediate operational capacity without the cost, disruption, or risk associated with expanding in-house administrative teams. PolicyPro was created to address one of the most pressing challenges facing brokerages today: increasing administrative workload driven by renewals, transactions, accounting requirements, system migrations, portal entry, acquisitions, and regulatory change. By removing high-volume, non-licensed work from internal teams, PolicyPro allows brokerages to stabilize operations while scaling more confidently. “PolicyPro was built from real brokerage pain,” said Diane Horsfield, Vice President of Customer Success at Trufla and the leader behind PolicyPro. “I’ve spent years inside brokerage operations, and the pressure is real — renewals stacking up, accounting backlogs, constant system and process change. PolicyPro was designed to take that weight off brokerage teams in a way that’s practical, scalable, and grounded in how brokerages actually work.” PolicyPro is an operational...

Halpenny Acquires Windley Ely 0

Halpenny Acquires Windley Ely

Halpenny Acquires Windley Ely, Creating a New Canadian Leader in Corporate Insurance, Risk Management & Claims Advisory Services Ottawa, ON (Jan. 14, 2026) – Halpenny Insurance Brokers is pleased to announce the acquisition of Windley Ely, a nationally respected leader in workers’ compensation claims management, disability programs & workplace safety solutions. This strategic partnership brings together two organizations with deep expertise, integrity and proven track records of exceptional customer service standards. Halpenny & Windley Ely will now operate in 6 Canadian cities: Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary & London marking a key milestone in their national growth strategy. Richard Massie, CEO of Halpenny comments: “This partnership is a perfect union. Windley Ely’s extensive expertise in workers’ compensation management aligns perfectly with Halpenny’s corporate insurance, risk management, employee benefits, affinity and private client insurance offerings. Together we are stronger, more specialized and better positioned to support our clients in every region of the country.” Windley Ely will continue to operate under its existing name and brand for the foreseeable future maintaining the strong relationship and service standards that its clients have come to expect and trust. “We are thrilled to be joining forces with Halpenny” comments Dan Pompilii, CEO of Windley...

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New Exoskeleton System Said to Reduce Back and Strain Injuries by Almost Two-Thirds

Article 0 Comments An exoskeleton system developed initially by Vanderbilt University researchers decreased strain, sprain and lifting injuries by as much as 62% over months of study, signaling a way to reduce some of the most common workers’ compensation claims. The HeroWear company, based in Nashville, said trials over eight to 23 months show that workers at distribution centers who wore the Apex 2 exosuit had a significantly lower injury rate. Strain and sprain injuries dropped from about 10.2% per 100 workers per year to 3.8%. The system works like an extra set of back muscles to limit strain, fatigue and discomfort, the company said in a statement this week. The suit did not shift injuries to other body parts, overcoming a longstanding concern about exoskeleton systems. The suit was tested at five distribution centers, including food and beverage, retail, manufacturing and warehouse sites for more than 311,000 work hours. That’s equivalent to 155 full-time employees working for more than a year, the company said. Back injuries and strains and sprains have produced some of the most-often seen workers’ compensation claims, accounting for about 23% to 30% of all U.S. claims, according to Work Health Solutions and the National Safety...

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Sweeping US Winter Storm Threatens Blackouts and Snarled Travel

Article 0 Comments A vast swath of the US — sweeping east from the Southern Rockies to the Mid-Atlantic and New England — is on alert for winter-storm conditions that could last days, disrupting travel and threatening blackouts. By Friday evening, a mix of freezing rain and snow is expected to arrive in Texas, raising the risk of widespread power outages from ice buildup and as electricity demand jumps to keep homes warm. Through the weekend, the storm will barrel toward the US Northeast, leaving a glaze of ice and sleet in its wake. At least 170 million people are in the areas likely to impacted, said Brian Hurley, a meteorologist for the Weather Prediction Center. “It’s going to create a lot of inconvenience and hazard,” he said. Prices for electricity and natural gas — the No. 1 power-plant fuel also used for home heating — have already started to rally leading into the extreme conditions. There’s the potential for local disasters as heavy ice accumulations raise the chances of prolonged power outages that will cut some homes off from their source of heat. Heavy snow will likely fall across New York City early Sunday, with more than 14 inches...

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Pacific Life Seeks to Dismiss Kyle Busch’s $8.5M Lawsuit Over Insurance Policies

Article 0 Comments Pacific Life Insurance Company on Thursday asked a federal court to dismiss the $8.5 million lawsuit filed by NASCAR champion Kyle Busch and his wife over policies the Buschs claim were sold to them under false and negligent representations as tax-free income for retirement. The filing in the Western District of North Carolina — the same court that just heard the Michael Jordan-led antitrust suit against NASCAR — alleges the Buschs purchased five separate Indexed Universal Life policies between 2018 and 2022 to provide more than $90 million in insurance protection for the two-time NASCAR champion. The IUL policies were intended to provide immediate death benefit protection and “the opportunity to accumulate cash values when the policies are held for the long term.” Pacific Life claims Busch failed to fully fund the policies, let some lapse and surrendered the others. Busch has claimed he is out $10.4 million and filed suit in October alleging Pacific Life failed to reveal the true risks of the policies. Pacific Life countered in its request to have the suit dismissed that both Buschs signed multiple documents acknowledging they understood the policies, including one that indicated the couple would pay planned premiums...