| Great American Insurance Group Announces Winner of “BIG RIG GIVEAWAY”
CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A long-haul trucker from Janesville, WI was the lucky winner of Great American Insurance Group's BIG RIG GIVEAWAY at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) on March 24 in Louisville, KY. Bruce Doering's name was drawn at random from more than 7,500 entries received during the three month contest period. Mr. Doering won a 2002 Freightliner Classic customized by 4 State Trucks, home of the popular Chrome Shop Mafia body shop. The BIG RIG GIVEAWAY was open to all truckers with a valid commercial drivers' license. Mr. Doering, an independent owner-operator, has been insured by Great American since April, 2006. Great American Insurance Group's Trucking Division is a leading provider of insurance products and services to independent owner-operators. The contest demonstrates Great American's commitment to the trucking industry.
Cracker Barrel sues insurers to cover $2 million harassment settlement
A year after paying $2 million in sexual and racial harassment claims, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is now suing two of its insurance carries, alleging they both failed to reimburse the Lebanon-based store for the cost of defending itself against the federal lawsuit that led to the $2 million settlement.
The new lawsuit, filed last week in the U.S. District Court in Nashville, claims that the Cincinnati Insurance Company and the Houston Casualty Company breached their contracts with Cracker Barrel by “refusal to honor their insurance policy obligations."
Cracker Barrel became the target of an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) lawsuit in August of 2004 after an EEOC investigation uncovered multiple instances of sexual harassment against female employees in three Illinois restaurants, as well as discrimination harassment of black employees.
State orders insurer to cut rates further
VERO BEACH Cincinnati Insurance Co.'s proposal to roll back their homeowners property insurance coverage by 3.2 percent statewide was rejected by officials with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, who instructed the company to instead decrease rates by 31.3 percent. "They will have to make a new filing with us," said agency spokesman Bob Lotane on Wednesday. "The simplest way to put it is, they are going to have to get their math right." .
Great American Insurance Group Announces Winner of ``BIG RIG ...
The BIG RIG GIVEAWAY was open to all truckers with a valid commercial drivers' license. Mr. Doering, an independent owner-operator, has been insured by Great American since April, 2006. Great American Insurance Group's Trucking Division is a leading provider of insurance products and services to independent owner-operators. The contest demonstrates Great American's commitment to the trucking industry.
Mr. Doering's customized Freightliner features a navy blue exterior with hand-painted graphics that depict some of America's famous monuments. The interior renovation includes a unique red, white and blue dashboard, chrome detailing, an externally mounted video camera with in-cab display to minimize blind spots, and a full-color illustration of an American Bald Eagle in the sleeper cab.
Ethical wills: bequeathing your life lessons
PHILADELPHIA - When he dies, Abraham Leibson of Lambertville, N.J., wants to leave his heirs a love of learning, the flexibility to change, and the courage to face their fears. And while such abstract concepts cannot be bequeathed as tangibly as a pocket watch or a stock portfolio, ideals and values are part of one's legacy, nonetheless - and they can be passed from one generation to another. So Leibson, who is 69 and in good health, is writing an ethical will. "I want to show my children what guided my way of life," he says. Shorter than a memoir, less extensive than a family history, an ethical will is a not-legally-binding statement that summarizes how you'd like to be remembered. With Americans turning 60 at the rate of about 8,000 a day, interest in ethical wills is exploding.
Great American Financial Resources, Inc. Board Elects Additional ...
CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Great American Financial Resources, Inc. ("GAFRI") (NYSE:GFR) announced today that its Board of Directors had elected L. Thomas Hiltz as a director of GAFRI. Mr. Hiltz was also appointed a member of the Special Committee of independent directors, to serve with Ronald G. Joseph and Joseph P. Tomain, to consider the unsolicited proposal from American Financial Group, Inc. ("AFG") to acquire all the shares of GAFRI common stock not owned by AFG. Mr. Hiltz is a private attorney and serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT) and a member of the Board of numerous charitable organizations. About GAFRI GAFRI is a Cincinnati-based insurance holding company with $13 billion in assets. The Company's subsidiaries include Great American Life Insurance Company, Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company, Central Reserve Life Insurance Company, Continental General Insurance Company, United Teacher Associates Insurance Company and Loyal American Life Insurance Company.
Anthem's position in dispute with Alliance
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield takes the responsibility of providing quality and affordable health care seriously. This column is to share with the Greater Cincinnati community the objective facts around the potential disruption with the Health Alliance. First, please note the Health Alliance canceled Anthem's entire contract rather than choosing to remain in-network while negotiating future reimbursement changes. The Alliance is quick to point out that we are objecting to signing a new contract that would give them the same increase that they are receiving from the other insurance carriers locally, despite the fact that we are the largest insurer. We, in fact, did sign that agreement three years ago. As a result of that three-year financial agreement, the hospital reimbursement increases to the Alliance have been 12 percent, 12 percent and 9 percent, as compared to other large hospitals' increases and hospital consumer price index during that same period of 5 percent to 7 percent.
Cincinnati Drops Herd Baseball, 12-10
CINCINNATI - The Cincinnati Bearcats held off a late Thundering Herd rally to come away with a 12-10 victory over the Thundering Herd at Marge Schott Stadium on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. With the win, the Bearcats improve to 18-14, while Marshall falls to 14-17. The Herd has now dropped 12 consecutive games, its longest losing streak since 1999. Cincinnati jumped on the Herd early, plating a pair of runs in the first three innings of the game. In the bottom of the first, a Neill French home run scored Josh Harrison, who had earlier doubled, to give the Bearcats a 2-0 lead. In the second, UC manufactured two runs on three hits, and in the third, added two more on a Michael Earley double, which plated Harrison. A passed ball by Herd catcher Thad Ledford (Yukon, Okla.) then allowed Earley to score from third to make the score, 6-0.
Talk of the bay: No. 1 in sports, college is No. 2 in incubating
So, who's doing a good job of raising companies? The University of Florida's biotechnology business incubator, says the National Business Incubation Association. The UF facility was named the second best of its kind in the world for 2007. The incubator assists new life science companies by providing space, equipment, logistical guidance and connections with prospective investors. The university lost the No. 1 position to Montpellier Business and Innovation Center in France. Stake your claim to Pearlman cash Does Lou Pearlman owe you money? If you'd like to join the crowd, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida is accepting claims against Pearlman and one of his companies, Trans Continental Airlines. Forms are available from the court or online (blogs.tampabay.com/money) and must be received by July 30 at the bankruptcy court clerk's office at 135 W Central Blvd., Suite 950, Orlando, FL 32801.
Real estate investment: the key to building wealth
Dennis Grant, president of Florida Topland Inc., says real estate investment is one of the more successful means of building wealth. Grant was addressing the real estate seminar 'Building Financial Wealth by Empowerment and Investment in Land', at the Hilton Kingston hotel, New Kingston, last Wednesday. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer Ashford W Meikle, Business Reporter If the meteoric success of the Jamaican-born Floridian businessman and pastor, Dennis Grant, is anything to go by, then, without a doubt, investing in land is the path to building financial wealth and living the American dream. "You don't need a have a green card or be an American citizen to purchase land in the United States. Four years ago I was broke but I knew whereI was going and started seeking opportunities," said Grant in a presentation Wednesday at the Hilton Kingston hotel as he encouraged the participants to invest in land through his company, Florida Topland, Incorporated.
Insurance company offers option for the 'well to do' and their ...
He hadn't been in the market for a new insurance company until he got his bill from State Farm Florida Insurance Co.
The price to insure Richard Halpern's home, on the Loxahatchee River in Tequesta, was set to rise to $28,000 from $9,000 the year before. And that was with a $5,000 credit Halpern received for being a good customer.
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Forum at The Center on Thursday night to consider black issues
The Lycoming Tri-County NAACP will present the second of a series of forums focusing on issues affecting the black community.
State of the Black Union: Strengthening the Black Family, Preserving the African American Imprint on America is set for 6 p.m. Thursday at the Campbell Street Community Center.
Despite obvious economic, educational and social improvements made by blacks, racial disparities between between blacks and whites have never disappeared, according to NAACP officials.
A recent analysis in The New York Times reported that the best forecast of a schools standardized testing scores is the race and class of the student body. Schools with predominantly white and wealthy students have a 25-percent chance of earning high test scores for multiple years while only one in 300 schools attended by poor children of color will do the same.
MORE THAN A PET PROJECT
WASHINGTON - Dan Cohen's business career started at the ballpark, selling tickets and sponsorships for the Washington Wizards and Redskins. Now he's moved on to the animal park, as founder and president of AnimalAttraction.com, a social networking site for people who love pets. ''I help them connect with other people who share a similar and very strong passion for pets,'' said Cohen. Cohen, 38, founded AnimalAttraction.com as a dating site for pet lovers three years ago with $400,000 of his own savings and $300,000 from investors. To expand its audience, a year ago he started changing the site from a matchmaking service to an online membership community for pet lovers. The free site includes a message board, chat room and photo contest featuring pets and ''parents.'' Cohen says he's adding user-generated videos, expert columns and a pet pals feature.
Chamber adding members
In 1907, a group of 25 dedicated industry leaders and prominent citizens decided to guide and shape Akron's future. Their goal was to help the region grow by overseeing its infrastructure, culture and business climate. They named the group the Akron Chamber of Commerce. Some of their initial struggles were as basic as getting a good water system, developing a sewer system and completing the North Hill viaduct. Over the decades, the chamber helped open the Art Institute, the Loew's Theatre, now known as the Civic Theatre, Cascade Plaza and E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall. Two of the biggest projects were the creation of a Naval Station at Municipal Airport and a bus-rail depot downtown. The chamber also helped bring the All-American Soap Box Derby to Akron and employers such as Chrysler to Twinsburg and Terex to Hudson.
Subprime mortgages: a double-edged sword for borrowers
Although hard numbers are tough to find, it appears that subprime mortgages are a double-edged sword for Native people. On one hand, they bring an access to mortgage credit routinely denied (at least on tribal homelands) until the very recent past. But they also can bring the price gouging and sharp practice of predators.
With the liquidity crisis under way, the closing of dozens of subprime lenders and the sale and bankruptcy of others would appear to have a limited impact on their Native borrowers, except for rumblings growing louder that many subprime borrowers were sold unsuitable mortgages. Specifically, these are adjustable rate mortgages (called interest-only and payment-option mortgages) set to re-price this year or next to higher interest rates that borrowers will find hard to afford.
Phoenix Adds Indexed Universal Life to Product Portfolio Offers ...
HARTFORD -- The Phoenix Companies, Inc. (NYSE: PNX) today introduced Phoenix Indexed ULSM, a flexible premium universal life insurance policy that gives customers the opportunity to grow their cash values in line with a rising stock market while protecting these assets with guaranteed minimum returns even when the market drops. Phoenix Indexed UL is designed to appeal to individuals who need maximum flexibility in insurance premiums, coverage options, and access to cash value through policy loans or withdrawals. It is also attractive to business owners who need permanent life insurance protection, want cash value growth, and will fund the policy with an executive bonus plan, spilt-dollar plan, or corporate-owned life insurance. Phoenix Indexed UL is an important addition to our product portfolio because, for the right clients, its a significant improvement over traditional universal life, said Philip K.
Stranded senior lit fires, ate mints, never lost hope
The 68-year-old Gimli woman spent four nights trapped in her car after a wrong turn left her stranded at an old farmyard near St. Jean Baptiste. She'd been trying to reach her brother's house. From late Sunday night until she was discovered Thursday morning, the enterprising senior kept trying to find ways to summon help. "You're stuck there. You can spend two hours feeling sorry for yourself or you can spend two hours trying to help yourself," she said Friday, curled up at her son's Winnipeg home. "You've got a choice. I wasn't going to just give up." When Muller realized her car was stuck in the snow, she tried to walk for help. Her arthritis forced her to turn back. She got back into her 1992 Mercury Topaz and surveyed the situation. .
On the road with Gov. Blagojevich
I was probably more surprised than anyone when I was invited to tag along on Gov. Rod Blagojevich's road trip last week. The governor toured the state to push his universal health insurance plan and his gross receipts tax on business. I was on the bus with him for three days, and we talked for countless hours. I had a cordial relationship with Blagojevich back when he was in the Illinois House, but that was a long time ago. Over the years, the governor granted interviews to almost every other news bureau in the Statehouse, but I was excluded. He has visited the editorial boards of every major, and quite a few minor, newspapers in the state -- but I was kept away. During one press conference a few years ago, Blagojevich refused to answer any questions from me at all, so I whispered my questions to a couple of willing Chicago TV reporters who relayed them on my behalf, knowing he couldn't ignore them.
Children Dying, Lacking Healthcare
How did America get to the point where Deamonte Driver, a seventh grader in Prince George's County, Maryland, died because he didn't have health insurance to cover an $80 tooth extraction and his mother couldn't find a dentist to treat him? What happened to Deamonte is a Dickensian horror story that, sadly, is not unique in our rich nation. More than nine million children in our country try to live without health insurance, nearly 90 percent of them in working families. If we are to prevent similar tragedies, Congress and President Bush must enact long overdue legislation this year guaranteeing health and mental health coverage to all children. And every one of you reading this column ought to pick up the phone or e-mail your Senator and Representative and tell them to support the Children's Defense Fund (CDF)'s proposal to cover all children this year so that more children don't have to die unnecessarily.The inexcusable and unnecessary loss of Deamonte's life started when he complained of a toothache.
OIR: Underwriting tactics hurt minorities
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation says insurers' use of work and schooling information for the underwriting and rating of auto insurance policies hurts minorities and the poor. Though the practice is legal, the practice creates unintended effects that the government may find unacceptable, said Kevin McCarty, insurance commissioner. In 2003, the Legislature passed a law severely limiting the use of credit scoring in insurance underwriting. .
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