Latest Iowa Headlines

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

W. R. Berkley Corp. to Invest in Iowa’s Global Insurance Accelerator, Join Board

Oct 4 2017 // The Global Insurance Accelerator (GIA), based in Des Moines, Iowa, announced that W. R. Berkley Corp. (W. R. Berkley), will join the GIA board of directors through a commitment to be an investor.Founded in 1967 and based...

A.M. Best Upgrades Credit Rating of Farm Bureau Property & Casualty Group in Iowa

Oct 3 2017 // A.M. Best has upgraded the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating to “a+” from “a” and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of “A” of Farm Bureau Property & Casualty Insurance Co. and...

Iowa Workers’ Comp Rate to Drop in 2018; Debate On as to Why

Sep 19 2017 // Iowa’s governor and the organization that sets workers’ compensation rates are disputing whether a new law influenced a recent rate reduction in premiums for employers.The National Council on Compensation...

Iowa Judge: ‘Shadow Insurance’ Documents Are Confidential

Sep 18 2017 // An Iowa judge has ruled that the details of “shadow insurance” subsidiaries created by several life insurers can remain confidential.Indiana University professor emeritus Joseph Belth sought the documents last...

Donaghy Joins Iowa’s Crop Pro Insurance as Director of Data Science

Sep 15 2017 // Crop Pro Insurance, a Des Moines, Iowa-based managing general agent (MGA) specializing in crop insurance, has expanded its experienced leadership team with the addition of Brian Donaghy as director of Data Science.Donaghy...

Iowa City Sues Engineers Over Water Plant Design, Operation

Sep 1 2017 // Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, officials say the city’s water treatment plant doesn’t function as promised and so are suing the engineering firm that designed it.The Sioux City Journal reports that the city sued...

Judge Rules Against Iowa DOT in Noncommercial Vehicles Citations Case

Aug 29 2017 // Another judge has ruled that Iowa Department of Transportation officers didn’t have authority to issue speeding tickets to drivers of noncommercial vehicles.Scott County District Associate Judge Christine Dalton said...

Young Takes on Role of President at Iowa’s Crop Pro Insurance

Aug 22 2017 // Crop Pro Insurance, a Johnston, Iowa-based managing general agent (MGA) specializing in crop insurance, announced that Joe Young, a co-founder of Crop Pro Insurance, has signed on to serve as the new company’s...

Activists Oppose Iowa’s $1M in Liability Insurance Requirement for Rallies

Aug 16 2017 // Some activists are pushing to change rules that require groups to obtain $1 million in liability insurance before holding a protest at the Iowa Capitol, claiming the rule threatens free speech.The Iowa Department of...

Pennsylvania’s IA&B Hires Ross as Marketing, Communications Senior Director

Aug 9 2017 // Insurance Agents & Brokers (IA&B), a Mechanicsburg, Penn.-based tri-state trade organization, has hired Jennifer Ross as marketing and communications senior director. In her role, Ross will oversee communications...

Hail Storm Brings Boom for Some Iowa Businesses, Insurance Agents

Aug 8 2017 // A severe June 30 hail storm that struck Sioux City, Iowa has become big business for certain sectors of the local economy and drawn interest from outside contractors.The Sioux City Journal reported that auto body shops,...

Iowa Man Awarded $4.5M in Age Bias Lawsuit Against Hospital

Jul 31 2017 // A jury has awarded $4.5 million to a former employee who sued an Iowa hospital for age bias and retaliation. The Des Moines Register reports that the jury’s July 24 decision came after a 10-day trial of Grinnell...

Ex-Iowa Seed Company Exec Files $80M Suit over Firing

Jul 20 2017 // An executive for a prominent Iowa seed company is alleging he was wrongly fired by Iowa’s richest man and deprived his right to acquire $80 million worth of corporate stock. Joseph Saluri filed a lawsuit against...

Iowa’s Holmes Murphy: Responsible Time Off Policy a Success

Jul 14 2017 // For the past year, Des Moines, Iowa-based Holmes Murphy team members across the nation have overwhelmingly embraced the independent insurance brokerage’s Responsible Time Off program.Holmes Murphy said it began a...

Downtown Fire in Central Iowa Town Causes Extensive Damage

Jul 7 2017 // A major blaze damaged several buildings in a central Iowa town on Independence Day, but fire officials don’t suspect fireworks as the cause.The Des Moines Register reports that the fire started late on July 4 in...

Court: Former Work Comp Commissioner Can Sue Iowa over Alleged GOP Reprisals

Jul 6 2017 // In a landmark decision making it easier for citizens to sue government officials who violate their rights, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that a Democratic appointee can seek damages for alleged political retaliation he...

Injuries, Property Damage Reported from Tornadoes in Iowa, Wisconsin

Jun 30 2017 // Thunderstorms that spun off tornadoes as they rumbled across Iowa injured at least two people, mowed down crops and damaged homes and farm buildings. In Wisconsin, at least one person was reported injured, as...

Appeals Spent, Iowa Egg Executives in Salmonella Case Ordered to Prison

Jun 29 2017 // A father and son whose Iowa-based egg production company caused a massive 2010 salmonella outbreak have exhausted their appeals and a federal judge has ordered them to begin serving prison sentences.The U.S. Supreme Court...

Iowa’s ManchesterStory Group Welcomes Aon Benfield’s O’Halleran

Jun 21 2017 // ManchesterStory Group (ManchesterStory), a Des Moines, Iowa-based venture capital firm focused on insurance-relevant fintech and healthcare companies, has added Michael O’Halleran as a special advisor and chair of...

Danielsen Joins TrueNorth as Producer in Iowa

Jun 20 2017 // Iowa-based insurance services firm, TrueNorth, has added Lane Danielsen as a producer within its risk management division. He is based in West Des Moines, Iowa. Danielsen has more than 12 years of experience in sales and...