Latest Michigan Headlines

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

Michigan Governor Expected to Veto Senate Bill Halting Ergonomics Rule

Feb 9 2009 // A divided Michigan Senate has voted to stop Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s administration from instituting mandatory workplace ergonomics rules in the state.But the 20-16 vote is unlikely to change much. The Democratic...

Michigan Auto Insurance System, Costs, Insurers Under Fire

Feb 5 2009 // Michigan’s insurance consumer advocate is charging that drivers are paying a high cost for years of state deregulation of insurance and record insurance company profits.Gov. Jennifer Granholm has threatened penalties...

Insurance Industry Blasts Granholm’s Call for Rate Freeze, Advocate’s Report

Feb 5 2009 // The insurance industry is not taking the recent attacks by Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and the state consumer advocate lightly.Insurance trade groups have come out swinging against Granholm’s call for a freeze on...

Michigan Blue Cross Wins Battle Over Workers’ Compensation Business

Feb 4 2009 // Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox is not giving up in his battle and will appeal a judge’s ruling in support of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s ownership of workers’ compensation insurance...

Michigan Governor Granholm Wants Freeze on Auto Insurance Rates

Feb 4 2009 // In her seventh State of the State address, Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm called for a freeze on auto insurance rates.She said the freeze would last for a year, “while the Legislature works to enact...

Michigan Insurance Hall of Fame Now Accepting Nominations

Feb 3 2009 // The Michigan Insurance Hall of Fame (MIHOF) is now accepting nominations for its 16th annual induction ceremony Wednesday, Aug. 19 on the Olivet College campus. The MIHOF recognizes individuals who have made a significant...

Michigan Senate Republicans Could Block Workplace Ergonomics Rule

Jan 29 2009 // Michigan Republicans are again trying to stop Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s administration from instituting mandatory workplace ergonomics rules in the state.The Democratic governor has previously vetoed similar...

Business Moves

Jan 25 2009 // Victoria, CranbrookVictoria Insurance Co., a subsidiary of Michigan-based USF Insurance Co., has changed its name to Cranbrook Insurance Co. Cranbrook is incorporated in Texas with its headquarters in Farmington Hills,...

Michigan Advances Ergonomics Rule Over Business Opposition

Jan 25 2009 // Michigan regulators have taken preliminary votes to advance mandatory workplace ergonomics standards over the objections of the business community.The votes by the General Industry Safety Standards Commission and...

Colt Park Insurance, Armstrong/Robitaille/Riegle Merge

Jan 21 2009 // Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Armstrong/Robitaille/Riegle Inc. has merged with Colt Park Insurance Agency of Brighton, Mich.Colt Park, along with A/R/R, will continue to write commercial insurance and personal lines and now will...

Ratings Roundup: Mountain States, HMSC, Woodbrook, Gateway, Fremont, Michigan Millers’

Jan 21 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to negative from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings of “a-” of Mountain States Mutual Casualty...

Michigan Advances Ergonomics Rule Over Business Opposition

Jan 16 2009 // Michigan regulators have taken preliminary votes to advance mandatory workplace ergonomics standards for businesses in the state over the objections of the business community.The votes by the General Industry Safety...

Michigan Businesses Oppose Mandatory Workplace Rules

Jan 14 2009 // Business groups want to halt efforts to adopt mandatory workplace ergonomics standards in Michigan. Commissions set up by state regulators are scheduled to take preliminary but key votes on potential rules next week. A...

AAA Michigan: 2 Million Residents Traveled During Holidays

Jan 11 2009 // An estimated 2 million Michigan residents – almost the same number as last year traveled 50 miles or more from home during the Christmas holiday and New Year’s period, according to AAA’s latest travel...

Private, Independent and Free

Jan 11 2009 // Top 100 Agency Profile RANKING: No. 7 Agency Name: The Hylant Group Headquarters: Toledo, Ohio Year Founded: 1935 Additional Locations: 11 other offices in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Tennessee 2007 Property/Casualty...

Michigan Insurance Department Recovers $17 Million in 2008

Jan 8 2009 // Michigan Insurance Commissioner Ken Ross recently announced that the Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR) had recovered $17,487,531.According to Ross, $6,782,777 of the recoveries involved insurance and...

Victoria Insurance Co. Changes Name to Cranbrook Insurance

Jan 6 2009 // Victoria Insurance Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Michigan-based USF Insurance Co., has changed its name to Cranbrook Insurance Co., effective Jan. 1. Cranbrook is incorporated in Texas with its headquarters in...

Smoking Ban Deal Still Discussed by Michigan Lawmakers

Dec 22 2008 // Michigan lawmakers had not reached deals to ban smoking in restaurants and bars or change the rules for pricing individual health insurance policies as their 2007-08 session neared an end on Thursday, Dec. 18.Both issues...

AAA Reports: 2 Million Michigan Residents Plan Holiday Travel

Dec 22 2008 // An estimated 2 million Michigan residents — almost the same number as last year — will travel 50 miles or more from home during the upcoming Christmas holiday period, according to AAA’s latest travel...

Michigan Man Files Suit to Stop AIG Bailout on Religious Grounds

Dec 17 2008 // A Michigan man is challenging the government’s bailout of American International Group Inc., claiming the move is illegal because the insurer has financial products that promote Islam and are anti-Christian.The...