Regional carriers can offer agents more focus, ease of doing business, and closer proximity to clients, says Doug Sharp, V.P. of agency relations at Grange, in an exclusive interview with American Agent & Broker. Read the Q&A at http://bit.ly/11BbLg.

Will health care reform legislation now before Congress make coverage more affordable, or will it increase premiums? That's the subject of the latest NU Online Poll at www.property-casualty.com.

The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety will begin posting fatality totals on the more than 50 electronic message boards lining the state's interstates and parkways.

An insurance trade group said a study shows new taxes on health care providers proposed in a Senate health care reform bill would raise the cost of health insurance by 14 percent over the next five years.

Salary budgets within the property and casualty insurance industry appear to be holding steady, with increases of 3.4 percent expected for next year, according to a survey.

State Farm found that 2.4 million collisions involving deer and vehicles happened in the last two years. That means roughly one such accident occurs every 26 seconds, which is a concern for motorists and insurers.

Markel Insurance Company has announced the acquisition of Agri-Risk Services Inc., an equine retail specialty agency in Overland Park, Kan. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Economic cycles and underwriting cycles historically have little connection with one another, an industry expert said at a gathering of surplus lines insurers and brokers here.