Up in the News

As Hurricane Ida approached New Orleans on a sticky August morning in 2021, Janet Tobias listened to the news, trying to decide if she should evacuate. While she packed, family members called to report they were stuck in fleeing traffic. Fueled by abnormally warm waters…

Homeowners are ‘worried and upset’ Area residents concerned about the declining availability of home insurance coverage got an update this month from the regulator tasked with salvaging California’s foundering market. Ricardo Lara, insurance commissioner since 2019, appeared with Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin for an April 4…

In 2022, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced he would force companies to offer discounts to people who take specific steps to protect their homes from wildfires. It was part of an effort, he said at the time, to “reward the hard work that California consumers…

The magnitude 7.9 earthquake that struck San Francisco on April 18, 1906, toppled buildings, brought down power lines and fractured water mains. The front page of the Chronicle the next day read “San Francisco in ruins.” But 80% of the property damage, according to a…

The discounts are for people who take actions to protect their homes and properties from wildfires. Read More.

‘Last resort’ fire insurance coverage is now going mainstream. CBS 8 is Working For You to get answers about the FAIR Plan, California’s fire insurance of last resort. Most people never hear about the California FAIR Plan until their homeowner’s insurance gets canceled. “It’s not…

More homeowners are being dropped based on drone photography The Wall Street Journal dives into the sticky topic of home insurance companies utilizing fly-by footage from drones, planes, and high-altitude balloons to assess properties. They report that the industry-funded Geospatial Insurance Consortium has aerial footage…

California’s insurance commissioner, local elected leaders provide information on property insurance State and local public agency representatives held an online Wildfire and Disaster Insurance town hall workshop for residents on April 4 to address homeowners insurance and how they can navigate resources to get coverage…

Of the 72,000 home and apartment insurance policies State Farm has chosen not to renew in California, more than 2,300 of those policies insure properties in the North Bay. Most regions listed by the state Department of Insurance under a February filing from the Illinois-based…

Of the 72,000 home and apartment insurance policies State Farm has chosen not to renew in California, more than 2,300 of those policies insure properties in the North Bay. Most regions listed by the state Department of Insurance under a February filing from the Illinois-based…

Many underground pipes that bring water into Illinois homes are getting old, which means more and more opportunities for the nightmare scenario faced by one Round Lake Beach homeowner. Things are more cozy at Marnia Chapai’s house, but it hasn’t felt like home in a…

The state’s largest home insurer says a new wave of non-renewals is about to hit parts of the Bay Area hard, including wildfire-devastated zip codes in the North Bay. “It’s frustrating because we did everything we were asked to do and beyond and it cost…

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is trying to get property insurers to remain in the state despite a spate of wildfires. In Sacramento, Ricardo Lara is the state’s insurance commissioner who hasn’t yet stopped an exodus of property insurers fleeing increased costs fueled by climate…

The Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to consider prohibiting landlords from inquiring about prospective tenants’ criminal history. Council members voted 11-0, with no discussion, to reactivate a motion seeking to establish a so-called “fair chance” housing ordinance. Council President Paul Krekorian and Councilman Curren…

Home insurance companies are increasingly using aerial images from drones and even high-altitude balloons as a tool to dump properties seen as higher risk, according to a report. Angry homeowners have reported losing their coverage after being told they had damaged roof shingles, debris in…

Insurance companies are leveraging aerial images of homes to drop properties deemed too risky, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. Consumer advocates are concerned that customers are not always able to challenge images that could be out of date or inaccurate. The…

Insurance companies across the country are using satellites, drones, manned airplanes and even high-altitude balloons to spy on properties they cover with homeowners policies — and using the findings to drop customers, often without giving any opportunity to address alleged shortcomings. “We’ve seen a dramatic…

The practice has been critized for breaching customer privacy and consumer rights. Some U.S. home insurance companies are using drone surveillance to decide whether to insure people’s homes, according to a report. In some cases, this has led to insurers refusing to insure homes due…

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