Just as LADWP prepared to reopen Sunset Boulevard after replacing the ruptured 36-inch water main, crews discovered another leak that could extend repairs. The latest setback adds uncertainty for property owners, businesses, and insurance claims tied to the July 16 flooding.
Dashcam footage and an independent 911 witness helped investigators prove a California driver intentionally caused a collision before filing a fraudulent insurance claim. The driver received jail time, probation, and restitution after being convicted on multiple charges.
Two new studies conclude that mitigation discounts encourage home hardening for some property owners but fail to overcome affordability barriers for many households, even as climate-driven insurance costs continue to rise across much of the Southeast.
A California wildfire survivor says an unlicensed contractor took an $18,000 payment before abandoning the project. Insurance and fraud experts say similar scams are increasing after natural disasters across the United States.
Higher theft rates, expensive repairs and underwriting changes are making high-performance vehicles increasingly difficult to insure, even as used prices become more attractive.
Historical hurricane data shows tropical storm threats remain relatively low during the World Cup, but several host cities have experienced damaging storms, flooding, and infrastructure losses during June and July.
Federal prosecutors allege a Houston-area clinic owner and co-conspirators submitted hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent Medicare and Tricare claims tied to medically unnecessary allograft procedures. Investigators say the scheme generated nearly $300 million in government payments and involved kickbacks and patient referrals.
Deadly incidents in Washington and California are drawing attention to chemical storage inspections, emergency planning, and the risks tied to aging industrial tanks. Regulators and safety experts say maintenance failures can quickly escalate into major claims events.
Officials allowed more than half of evacuated residents to return home after pressure inside a volatile chemical tank dropped, though thousands remain displaced as investigations continue into the industrial incident.
Fire crews gained ground overnight as calmer winds helped containment efforts near Simi Valley. Thousands remain under evacuation orders as wildfire risk continues across Southern California.
Forecasters say exceptionally warm Pacific waters and a developing El Niño could push tropical systems farther north in 2026, increasing flood and storm concerns for Hawaii and Southern California homeowners.
Federal prosecutors said the defendant helped file fraudulent claims involving wrecked and inoperable vehicles as part of a broader Bay Area towing fraud operation tied to arson, staged losses, and organized insurance scams.
A widespread staged-accident scheme involving attorneys, drivers, and recruited passengers inflated claims and exposed vulnerabilities in trucking and insurance litigation.
