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• 2-Mile Wide Tornado Strikes Outside Oklahoma City; Death Toll Estimate Lowered

  By Carey Gillam, Reuters, Ian Simpson, Reuters  |  May 21, 2013

  Emergency workers searched for survivors in the rubble of homes, schools and a hospital in an Oklahoma town hit by a powerful tornado, but officials on Tuesday sharply lowered the number of deaths caused by the storm.

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  Battle over NFIP Rate Hikes Causes Ripples in Louisiana Senate Race

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 20, 2013

  The battle over rate hikes imposed on flood insurance program policyholders in Louisiana is intensifying, with the big prize being the Senate seat now held by Mary Landrieu, D-La.

• Tornadoes Pummel Midwest with More to Come

  By Anya Khalamayzer, PropertyCasualty360  |  May 20, 2013

  More than 20 tornadoes roared through the Midwest Sunday, and reports promise continuing severe weather today.

• Karen Clark & Co. Tool Allows Users to Create Hurricane Tracks, Estimate Losses

  By Phil Gusman, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 20, 2013

  Karen Clark & Company releases WindfieldBuilder—a tool that allows insurers to create hurricane tracks and wind speeds to estimate damage to exposures.

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  State Division of Insurance to Report Losses from Boston Marathon Bombings

  By Chad Hemenway, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 17, 2013

  The Massachusetts Department of Insurance says it has a data call out to the insurance industry in order draft a report on the April 15 bombings at the Boston Marathon.

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  U.S. Questionable Claims Referrals Up, Again

  By Chad Hemenway, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 17, 2013

  U.S. questionable claims increased 16 percent in 2012, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

• NAMIC Opposes Mandatory Coverage for Gun Owners in D.C.

  By Anya Khalamayzer, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 17, 2013

  Under the proposal, the state’s current 2,000 registered gun owners and all future buyers would have to take out a $250,000 policy covering damage from any gun use, even willful and illegal acts.

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  Allstate Seeks Independent Agents to Sell Branded Products

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 16, 2013

  Faced with attrition in its captive agencies, and a declining number of policies-in-force, Allstate Corp. is turning to a surprising distribution source to drive its brand: independent agents.

• Allstate Estimates $216M in Catastrophe Losses for April

  By Staff Writer  |  May 16, 2013

  Northbrook, Ill.-based insurer Allstate Corp. estimates catastrophe losses for the month of April at $216 million pre-tax and $140 million after-tax.

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  Tornadoes Rip Through North Texas, Causing Extensive Damage

  By Anya Khalamayzer, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 16, 2013

  Tornadoes late May 15 in north-central Texas damaged multiple homes, killing six people and injuring 100.

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  New York State Orders RelayRides to Stop Renting Third-Party Autos

  By Bonnie Cavanaugh, Property Casualty360.com  |  May 16, 2013

  RelayRides, a car-sharing service matching owners with third-party renters, agreed to stop conducting business in New York after Superintendent of Financial Services Benjamin M. Lawsky called its insurance coverage “illegal and inadequate.”

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  AccuWeather Predicts Three Land-Falling Hurricanes for 2013 Season

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 15, 2013

  As the June 1 Atlantic Hurricane season approaches, AccuWeather.com echoes earlier predictions by saying Atlantic basin residents can expect an active hurricane season.

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  Top 10 States for Dog Bite Claims

  By Caterina Pontoriero, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 15, 2013

  It’s a dog-eat-dog world, and last year 3,670 State Farm customers were wearing Milk-Bone underwear. Click to see State Farm’s top 10 states for dog bite claims in 2012.

• Progressive April Net Income More Than Doubles

  By Chad Hemenway, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 15, 2013

  Progressive Corp. says April net income skyrocketed 128 percent to $139.5 million.

• PIA Survey: Northeast Property Rates Up; Underwriting Changes Significant

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 14, 2013

  A survey of independent agents representing four states in the Northeast says the combination of escalating rates and stricter underwriting forced 93 percent to increase their remarketing efforts over last year.

• New Jersey to Adopt Homeowners Policy Summary Sheet

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 13, 2013

  In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, insurers in New Jersey will be required to add a summary sheet to homeowners policies issued to consumers.