Members of a nonprofit Minnesota group that maintains a collection of World War II-era planes are scrambling to find money for fire sprinklers for the hangar that houses the vintage exhibit.

Officials in South St. Paul have told the all-volunteer organization that it can no longer hold fundraisers in the hangar at Fleming Field or rent it out for events because the hangar lacks fire sprinklers, which could cost as much as $80,000.

The Minnesota Wing of the Commemorative Air Force has leased the hangar from the city since 1971.

Without the events, “it would be hard to pick up that kind of cash flow someplace else,” wing leader Amy Lauria told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “Th

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The federal government is no longer requiring that about 76,000 of the nation’s for-hire truckers carry cargo liability insurance.

Over the objections of shippers and transportation brokers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a rule effective March 21 that lifts the requirement for these for-hire motor common carriers that represent about 30 percent of the nation’s truckers.

Household goods motor carriers and household goods freight forwarders will continue to be subject to the FMCSA’s cargo insurance requirement.

The agency said it does not believe it is necessary for it to mandate cargo insurance that benefits commercial shippers. “Comm

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Fitch Ratings has affirmed non-life insurer Westfaelische Provinzial Versicherung AG’s (WPV) and life insurer Provinzial NordWest Lebensversicherung AG’s (PNWL) Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) ratings at ‘A+’ with Stable Outlook.

WPV and PNWL are part of the German Provinzial NordWest (PNW) insurance group. Fitch views WPV and PNWL as core entities of PNW. The agency also views PNW as an integral part of the German savings bank group Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe (Sparkassen) (SFG), which has an Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of ‘A+’ with Stable Outlook.

The ratings reflect Fitch’s view of PNW’s strategic importance within SFG, PNW’s very strong capitalisation, prudent reserving methods and WPV’s strong underwriting performance. Negative rating fac

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A group of Florida homeowners could see a double-digit increase in their property premiums if regulators go along with their insurer’s rate request.

Florida regulators are holding a public hearing today to consider the First Community Insurance Co.’s request that it can raise its rates on dwelling and fire policies by a statewide average by 23.3 percent.

If approved, the rate changes would apply to new policies as of April 1 and renewal policies as of April 26.

The public rate hearing is not the first on this filing. Last October, regulators met with the insurer’s executives to consider a 26.7 percent rate increase. At th

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