Latest Illinois Headlines

All the headlines from our Illinois Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Workers’ Comp Reform Approved in Illinois Senate

May 31 2011 // A plan to overhaul workers’ compensation to cut business costs and curb corruption emerged May 28 and was approved by the Illinois Senate.The measure, which came after six months of negotiations and now heads to the...

14 Killed as Tornadoes Carve Path Through Midwest

May 26 2011 // A violent storm system rumbled through the central U.S. on Wednesday, spawning tornadoes that turned homes into splintered wreckage, killing at least 14 people over two days and hampering rescue efforts in a city slammed...

Illinois Agency Fighting Release of Workers’ Comp Settlement Details

May 26 2011 // The Illinois agency that processes workers’ compensation claims is challenging the state attorney general’s order that it release details tied to millions of dollars in settlements.The Central Management...

Illinois Workers’ Comp Commission Adds Rascia, Kimmet

May 17 2011 // The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission announced that Ron Rascia has joined the organization as legal counsel and Mark Kimmet has been named internal auditor. Rascia previously worked for the Illinois Attorney...

Business Moves

May 16 2011 // BIA, IroquoisBusiness Insurance Associates (BIA) of Davidsonville, Md., has joined The Iroquois Group. BIA started in 2000 as an employee benefits agency. Agency Principal Ed Coogan expanded the agency into property and...

State Farm to Close Offices in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan

May 11 2011 // State Farm plans to close two dozen field offices in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan where 1,300 people work to save $8 million over the next five years. The Pantagraph newspaper in Bloomington reported that the insurance...

PMA Companies Opens News Illinois Office

May 4 2011 // PMA Companies, a Pennsylvania-based provider of commercial insurance risk management solutions and TPA claims and risk services, has opened an office in Schaumburg, Ill., and is offering property and casualty insurance and...

Mayor Orders Flood-Threatened Illinois City Evacuated

May 2 2011 // Authorities in a southern Illinois city menaced by two dangerously swollen rivers said on May 1 that most of the city’s remaining residents have heeded a mandatory evacuation order, prompted by river water seeping up...

Top 10 U.S. Excess/Surplus Insurers

May 2 2011 // The top 10 U.S. excess and surplus lines carriers of 2010 based on direct premiums written for the 12 months ended Dec. 31, 2010, according to SNL Financial include: American International Group Zurich Financial Services...

People

May 2 2011 // Novato, Calif.-based Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. named Andrea James vice president, national sales leader. She will lead the National Broker team. This role establishes engagement and relationships at multiple...

Illinois Insurance Dept. Issues Warning on Adjusters; Urges Flood Coverage

Apr 28 2011 // The Illinois Department of Insurance is warning homeowners about unsolicited offers of help from insurance adjusters after recent storms in southern Illinois.The agency says these unaffiliated adjusters claim they can get...

Top 10 U.S. Excess/Surplus Insurers

Apr 22 2011 // Top 10 U.S. Excess, Surplus Insurers of 2010 by Market ShareAccording to SNL Financial: Based on direct premiums written for the 12 months ended Dec. 31, 2010Of the top five, ACE Ltd. was the only company with an increase...

Illinois Senate Rejects Workers’ Compensation Changes

Apr 18 2011 // A Republican plan to overhaul the Illinois workers’ compensation system failed April 14 in the state Senate, largely over the question of whether workers should be required to prove injuries are...

Feds Probe Illinois Public Agencies’ Workers’ Comp Payouts

Apr 18 2011 // Federal prosecutors are investigating possible workers’ compensation abuses at Illinois government agencies after disclosures of millions of dollars in payouts and questionable practices by arbitrators. U.S....

Illinois Business Groups Open to Governor’s Call to Fix Workers’ Comp

Apr 14 2011 // Illinois business leaders welcomed Gov. Pat Quinn’s call for workers’ compensation reform, but a key lawmaker cautioned there’s a long road ahead before reaching any compromise.Quinn told participants in...

State Farm Plans Mileage-Based Premiums in Illinois

Apr 14 2011 // State Farm plans to begin increasing or lowering some of its Illinois policy holders’ rates next year based on how far they drive.The Bloomington-based company says its new Drive Safe and Save program will only be...

Feds Probe Illinois Public Agencies’ Workers’ Compensation Payouts

Apr 5 2011 // Two federal prosecutors are investigating possible workers’ compensation abuses at Illinois government agencies after disclosures of millions of dollars in payouts and questionable practices by arbitrators.The...

Declarations

Apr 4 2011 // All About Money“It’s all about money; that’s all it is.” —John Gillooly, attorney for a Detroit-area youth football league after a court reinstated a lawsuit against the league by an injured...

Rebello Joins Iroquois as Regional Manager for Illinois, Wisconsin

Mar 30 2011 // Christian Rebello has joined Iroquois Group Great Lakes as the regional manager for Illinois and Wisconsin. Rebello comes to the Iroquois Group from a top 20 independent agency in the Chicago area where he was an...

Illinois Insurance Director: Health Law Helping Consumers

Mar 25 2011 // While the anniversary of the Obama administration’s health law inspired events to publicize the law’s “broken promises” elsewhere, Illinois’ top insurance regulator contended consumers are...