The National African-American Insurance Association's 11th Annual National Conference will feature a variety of events, including speakers and roundtable discussion forums, the association said.

Karen Cutts, publisher and ME of the Risk Retention Reporter and author of a regular column for NU has been unable to attend captive confabs for medical reasons. She is missed. Read more at www.NoRiskZone.com .

California's insurance commissioner said he plans to sue the state over its move to sell $1 billion in assets of the State Compensation Insurance Fund, which is intended to balance the state's budget.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today proclaimed a state of emergency in Los Angeles and Monterey Counties, due to wildfires that started on Aug. 26 and have burned about 13,000 acres to date.

With a focus on tax, regulation, investment and other issues for risk retention groups at its annual conference, Sept. 23-25, the National Risk Retention Association said it also will feature experts discussing retention of customers and growth.

While insurers have made technology investments to strengthen relationships with agents, they have not invested in systems to help their underwriters achieve high performance, a recent Accenture report said.

Insurers' uncertainty over future performance of their loss-riddled investment portfolios will increase their demand for underwriting profits to meet earnings objectives, a rating service said.

Tropical Storm Danny is expected to avoid North Carolina skirting the coast of the Outer Banks, but it could impact Massachusetts with near hurricane force winds between Saturday and Sunday, forecasters said.