Latest Virginia Headlines

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

People

Jan 10 2010 // New York-based insurance wholesaler Russell Bond & Co. has promoted Margaret J. Arnold to assistant vice president-controller. She is a 20-year veteran of the firm.In addition, the company has also promoted Derek...

West Virginia Court Sides with Insurer on Antitrust Claim by Cancelled Agent

Jan 10 2010 // An insurance company has won a victory over one of its former West Virginia agents who claimed the insurer violated state antitrust law when it cancelled his contracts to sell its life and property/casualty products.The...

HUD Helps Virginia Homeowners with Suspect Drywall

Jan 7 2010 // Some families in Virginia whose homes were built with suspect drywall from China may be eligible for assistance to help rehabilitate their properties.To qualify, families must have insurance through the Federal Housing...

Virginia’s TowneBank Buys Taylor Johnson Insurance Group

Jan 6 2010 // Virginia-based TowneBank has acquired Taylor Johnson Insurance Group, which will become part of the bank’s affiliate, Towne Insurance Agency.Taylor Johnson Group, headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, employs 36...

U.S. Mine Deaths At Record Low

Jan 4 2010 // The number of miners killed on the job in the United States fell for a second straight year to 34, the fewest since officials began keeping records nearly a century ago.That was down from the previous low of 52 in 2008....

Cigarettes Sold in Virginia Must Meet Fire Standards

Dec 29 2009 // Starting next month, cigarettes sold in Virginia must comply with standards aimed at making them less likely to start fires. The General Assembly passed legislation in 2008 requiring that cigarettes sold in the state meet...

People

Dec 20 2009 // Beecher Carlson expanded its National Energy practice by appointing Jacklyn Kearns senior vice president.Kearns has 28 years of insurance and risk management experience. She joins Charlie Pierpont in Beecher...

Judge to Rule on Virginia Tech Shooting Lawsuits by Jan. 15

Dec 16 2009 // A judge said this week he would rule by Jan. 15 on whether to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the families of two students slain in the mass shootings at Virginia Tech.After hearing arguments, Montgomery County Circuit Court...

State-Owned Vehicle Accidents Cost West Virginia $17 Million

Dec 11 2009 // West Virginia has paid out $17.7 million to resolve more than 5,000 accident claims involving state vehicles during the past five budget years.That’s one finding from an audit delivered to legislators this week. The...

More Injuries on Public Than Private Sector Jobs in Virginia

Dec 10 2009 // New numbers show more workplace injuries and illnesses were reported in Virginia from those in government jobs than in the private sector in 2008. According to a Virginia Department of Labor and Industry report, 97,900...

Virginia Tech Faces $43 Million Lawsuit By Family Over Student’s Suicide

Dec 9 2009 // The family of a Virginia Tech student has filed a $43 million lawsuit, accusing the university of negligence in its response to a warning that their son was suicidal.Daniel Kim committed suicide on Dec. 9, 2007, about a...

National Association of Insurance Commissioners Elects New Officers

Dec 8 2009 // Members of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) have elected their 2010 officers at their Winter National Meeting in San Francisco. The new officers are: President: West Virginia Insurance...

West Virginia Court Sides with Insurer on Antitrust Claim by Cancelled Agent

Dec 4 2009 // An insurance company has won a victory over one of its former West Virginia agents who claimed the insurer violated state antitrust law when it cancelled his contracts to sell its life and property/casualty insurance...

North Carolina Mutual Seeks Hearing on License in Virginia

Nov 24 2009 // Virginia regulators are seeking to suspend the nation’s oldest black-owned insurer from doing business in the state, saying its finances are in hazardous condition.The Virginia State Corporation Commission said that...

Employee Charged with Arson in Virginia Pet Store Fire

Nov 19 2009 // An employee has been charged with arson in a weekend fire at a Roanoke, Virginia pet store that caused about $2 million in damage.Roanoke Fire Department spokeswoman Tiffany Bradbury said 18-year-old Corey Brian Hite of...

Fires at West Virginia Cave Attraction Ruled Arson

Nov 18 2009 // Investigators say two fires that destroyed the Smoke Hole Caverns gift shop and restaurant in West Virginia were deliberately set.Grant County Sheriff’s Deputy S.L. Wratchford says items were found inside a trash can...

Virginia Governor Requests Federal Damage Assessment Teams

Nov 16 2009 // Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine has requested that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) send preliminary damage assessment teams to Virginia to help determine damage levels from the recent...

Massey Energy Settles Age Bias Claim with West Virginia Miners

Nov 4 2009 // Hundreds of miners who were not rehired after Massey Energy bought a West Virginia mine have settled an age discrimination lawsuit against the Richmond, Va.-based coal producer.A hearing to approve the deal is scheduled...

West Virginia Seeks Funds to Boost Effort to Ban Distracted Driving

Nov 4 2009 // West Virginia’s lawmakers have tried and failed to ban texting and talking on cell phones, but that effort may get a new boost from Washington.Sen. Jay Rockefeller wants grant money for states that ban texting while...

Proposed West Virginia ‘Fat Tax’ Hit

Oct 27 2009 // West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin’s proposal that the state Public Employees Insurance Agency consider charging higher premiums for overweight workers has drawn criticism.Gordon Simmons, an organizer for state Public...