Bills filed recently in nearly a dozen states would extend the applicability of workers' compensation presumptions regarding PTSD and certain other mental injuries. Legislation introduced in Virginia would add depression and anxiety to the state's definition of mental injury for first responders, while the Connecticut measure would make all workers who witness certain events, such as a death, eligible for a PTSD presumption.

Last year saw a record high 15 class-action settlements of $1 billion or greater, says Gerald Maatman Jr., a partner at the law firm Duane Morris. Last year's record number of settlements were driven by drugmakers and distributors resolving lawsuits stemming from the opioid crisis, a Duane Morris report says. "There's this notion of social inflation," Maatman says. "Juries today ... are very different from juries prior to the pandemic."

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has nominated acting Insurance Commissioner Mike Humphreys to serve as the state's insurance regulator on a permanent basis. Humphreys had served as the state Insurance Department's chief of staff before being named acting commissioner in February.

Experts say shopping around and comparing quotes for for homeowners insurance can be helpful even in cases where a homeowner is not purchasing a new residence. "There are only benefits associated with shopping for homeowners insurance," APCIA's Karen Collins says, noting that "with inflation, supply chain issues and increased demand for skilled labor and construction materials following unprecedented natural disasters, there has been a significant increase in the cost to rebuild homes and businesses."

The Federal Reserve's Beige Book shows that while prices are still rising, the rate of inflation is moderating and respondents expect it to further cool this year. The survey has also found that employment in most districts continues to grow. "Many firms hesitated to lay off employees even as demand for their goods and services slowed and planned to reduce headcount through attrition if needed," the report states.

National Flood Insurance Program claim payouts related to Hurricane Ian totaled $2.2 billion as of Tuesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said. The latest figure marks a nearly 28% jump compared with the Jan. 9 total of claim payouts stemming from the storm, which was at Category 4 strength when it made landfall in Florida in September.

At least five states are considering bills that would regulate how tech companies collect information about children. "I think kids' and teens' privacy is not an issue that is going away," says Cobun Zweifel-Keegan of the International Association of Privacy Professionals; efforts are pending in West Virginia, New Jersey, Virginia, Oregon and Texas.

Wholesale prices cooled in December, with the producer price index falling 0.5% compared with November, according to the Labor Department. Loretta Mester, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, says that interest-rate increases appear to be having the desired effect on inflation but that more action is needed.