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Real World Economics: Changing climate pressures insurers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:42 GMT

Edward LottermanThe invention of insurance more than five centuries ago was at least as key to the development of modern economies as the steam engine.Being able to spread risk from those engaging in an enterprising activity to others who were willing to absorb it for a fee facilitated greater trade and investment.Virtually every household and business buys insurance. But the property and casualty part of the industry is in rough waters. Some companies are insolvent. Others are no longer serving large geographic markets.Longstanding policyholders suddenly find that firms with which they have done business for years are not just raising rates, but rather refusing entirely to renew coverage. Homeowners — and condo owners associations — scramble to get coverage that, if for no other reason, understandably is required by mortgage lenders.Commercial property owners, including farmers, face the same price and coverage shocks.State insurance regulators and legislators often see...

07/16/2023: Another stormy Sunday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:42 GMT

The latest Storm Tracker Forecast from Meteorologist Jill Szwed.Happy Sunday! Storms were up early this morning. A few tornado warnings were issued as the latest round of heavy rain pushed in. We are in the clear for severe weather now. Flooding concerns will grow as the day goes on.This morning's heavy rain and storms exit to the east by mid-morning. Rays of mid-day sun could lead to some pop-up storms. Otherwise, the middle of the day will be drier. A line of storms will approach late this afternoon. These storms will arrive in the Hudson Valley around sundown.The late-day storms will be capable of producing damaging winds and a few more brief spin-ups. Areas east of the Hudson River into the Berkshires have a slightly elevate risk for an isolated tornado. The severe threat will diminish after dark.Flooding remains the top threat all day long. It will only take an inch or two in three hours for flash flooding to occur. A Flood Watch remains in effect through early Monday morning. ...

Albany County Farmers Market moves inside due to weather

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:42 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The first day of the Albany County Farmers Market has been moved inside MVP Arena due to thunderstorms in the area. The event will run on Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The new farmers market series will offer a wide array of goods from local vendors. Free parking is provided for attendees in the MVP Arena parking garage during the hours of the events. The remainder of the market's schedule for the season is listed below.Farmers Market ScheduleAll markets held rain or shine from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.August 20September 17October 15 Village of Scotia Fire Department celebrating 150 years of service Each event will also feature educational and family activities. The market is free and open to the public.

Albany police investigating shots fired

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:42 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany Police Department announced they are investigating two instances of shots fired. It is currently undetermined if the two occurrences are connected. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! At 11:35 p.m. on July 15, police received a call for shots fired in the area of First Street and Quail Street. Then at 12:05 a.m., police received a second call for shots fired in the area of Mount Hope Drive and South Pearl Street. Police located evidence at both scenes, though there were no injuries in either instance. The investigations remain ongoing.

St. Louis locals still dealing with no power after latest storms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:42 GMT

SPANISH LAKE, Mo. - Thousands in the St. Louis area are still without power Sunday morning as the region recovers from the latest round of destructive storms earlier this weekend. One of the hardest hit areas is north county, including the Spanish Lake area.Large sections of mature trees down in yards can still be seen. In some cases, big parts of trees were into homes leaving behind significant damage. The damage in north county is still showing the force of the storms that tore through the area Friday night into Saturday morning.Even though it has been some time since the latest storms hit, there is clearly still a lot of clean up ahead for impacted locals and much work to do for power crews to get all the lights back on.FOX 2 saw Ameren crews out in the Spanish Lake area Sunday morning amidst the damage trying to restore power. We also spoke with a man who lives in an impacted area of Spanish Lake.Andre Hill lives on June Drive, and has not had power since Friday night. Andre say...

Violent crash kills 1, severely injures 4 in Van Nuys 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:42 GMT

A violent crash in Van Nuys has claimed the life of one person and sent four others – including an 11-year-old – to the hospital. According to authorities, two vehicles carrying five occupants collided with each other on Saticoy Street near Oso Street around 3:45 a.m. "A white Mustang was driving westbound on Saticoy at a high rate of speed lost control and crossed over the double yellow line, and collided with a gray Audi," said LAPD Sergeant Jeremy Miller. "One passenger in the white Mustang was killed."According to authorities, two vehicles carrying five occupants collided with each other on Saticoy Street near Oso Street around 3:45 a.m. (KTLA)According to authorities, two vehicles carrying five occupants collided with each other on Saticoy Street near Oso Street around 3:45 a.m. (KTLA)According to authorities, two vehicles carrying five occupants collided with each other on Saticoy Street near Oso Street around 3:45 a.m. (KTLA)Accor...

Homeless woman dies after being run over by weed mower in California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:42 GMT

An organization that supports the unhoused and a family are heartbroken after a landscaping contractor hired by the city of Modesto allegedly drove over and killed a woman who was laying in a field of overgrown vegetation."I feel terrible because they killed my daughter," said Christopher Chavez, the father of 27-year-old Christine, who was unhoused and died Saturday, the day when workers driving a John Deere tractor with a pull-behind mower were cleaning up Beard Brook Park. Christopher said that he immediately went to the spot where his daughter died after learning about her death.Christine Chavez "There were many pieces of (her remains) around there and I called the police," Chavez said. "I went there and I still have pieces of bones, like pieces of her skull and some teeth. It's terrible."At Tuesday's city council meeting, a representative of the organization We Are Not Invisible addressed city leaders, saying that Chavez's father will not get the opportunity to say goodbye to h...

Summer concerts, Shakespeare set for Cupertino’s Memorial Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:42 GMT

Summer Concert SeriesThe Summer Concert Series at Memorial Park Amphitheater is going strong on Thursdays through Sept. 7, 6:30-8 p.m.On  July 27 Phil’ n The Blanks play high-energy classic, modern and country rock dance music. Mixed Nuts hits the stage Aug. 3, playing hits from the ’40s to the present. Patron Latin Rhythms perform on Aug. 10, followed by Big Blu Soul Revue on Aug. 17 and dance band Joint Chiefs on Aug. 24. The series closes Sept. 7 with the Country Cougars.For more information, visit https://www.cupertino.org/our-city/departments/parks-recreation/community-events/summer-concert-series-june-july.Shakespeare in the ParkThe San Francisco Shakespeare Festival is staging “Cymbeline” at the Memorial Park Amphitheater July 22-Aug. 6. Performances run 6-7:30 p.m.“Cymbeline,” a romantic adventure, is believed to be one of Shakespeare’s final plays and features a mix of comedy, tragedy and fairy tale. The show is suitable for all ages and runs without an intermission.F...

Piano concert, Shakespeare coming to Saratoga

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:42 GMT

‘Love and Water’ concertKatya Grineva, the only female solo pianist who has played Carnegie Hall 20 seasons, returns to Saratoga July 21 with her ‘Love and Water’ concert. The program of Romantic music is set for 7 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 14103 Saratoga Ave. Grineva will play works by Chopin, Offenbach, Liszt, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Ravel, Debussy and Bloch.Tickets are $10-$25 at Eventbrite.com and $15-$30 at the door. A reception will follow the concert in the church courtyard.‘Lear’ and ‘Love’ at SanbornSilicon Valley Shakespeare is staging “King Lear” and “Shakespeare in Love” this summer in repertory at Sanborn Skyline County Park, 16055 Sanborn Road, Saratoga.“Lear” runs July 28-Sept. 1 and features an all-female cast acting out the tragedy of a king who mistakes flattery for love and pays dearly for the error of his ways.A bit of gender bending is already woven into “Shakespeare in Love,” based on the Oscar-winning movie about a young Bard facing writer’s block who f...

Santa Clara County opens up remote meeting access

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:42 GMT

Remote meeting accessSanta Clara County residents will soon be able to participate remotely in meetings of the county’s 52 boards and commissions that are subject to the Brown Act, the state’s open meeting law. Apart from the county Board of Supervisors and its policy committees, remote participation hasn’t been an option since the county returned to in-person meetings early this year.Potentially as soon as this August, members of the public will be able to attend meeting in person or watch online via a web portal. They will also be able to make public comment in person, online or by phone.Over the summer, the county will acquire hardware and train staff to begin remote public participation. The county will also hire two staff members for the Office of the Clerk of the Board and a multimedia specialist for the Technology Services and Solutions department.Those interested in applying for a seat on a county board a commission can visit https://boardclerk.sccgov.org/boards-and-commissi...