A coalition of environmental and conservative groups, backed by a consortium of insurance interests, has joined forces to fight legislation to create a federal catastrophe insurance pool.

Premiums are not likely to begin rising until early 2010, but federal insurance regulatory reforms before then could mean abrupt price spikes rather than gradual shifts, one leading industry economist has warned.

Outgoing PRIMA President Sarah Perry will moderate a session on working with the media at PRIMA's annual conference in Dallas. The timing for such an event couldn't be better, observes National Underwriter's Assistant Managing Editor Caroline McDonald.

Florida residents can now access an online Insurance Library, which provides "comprehensive information on financial and insurance issues," Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink announced.

Coastal residents are still largely uninformed, unworried and unprepared for a major hurricane, a survey has found.

Not only did Eric Dinallo do an excellent job as New York's insurance superintendent in the most difficult of times, but he's destined for far bigger positions down the road, says Editor In Chief Sam Friedman in his blog today at www.NUSamSoapBox.com.

The Fairfax, Va.-based Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI) announced recipients yesterday of its 2009 PERISHIP Dissertation Fellowships in hazards, risks and disasters, awarded to five doctoral program students.

William Corrigan has been named chief financial officer of Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC, which targets the insurance needs of small to middle market businesses and personal lines clients, it was announced.