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A year-long project begins Monday to repair the three-story headquarters of the state Department of Environmental Protection building in Charleston’s Kanawha City.
Terry Fletcher
The state is paying a contractor $9.7 million to replace the building’s HVAC system, repair the roof, reseal the dozens of windows in the building and fix expansion joints.
The work is expected to take about a year to complete, DEP Spokesman Terry Fletcher told MetroNews.
Funding for the federal government has been halted for the third week during a budget impasse.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey
According to a report by the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, there were more than 22,900 federal employees in the state as recently as March of this year. The report said 15,844 of those hail from the Eastern Panhandle.
The Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission meets Monday to interview the applicants for the state Supreme Court seat left vacant by the passing of Justice Tim Armstead.
Armstead died Aug. 26 after a battle cancer. The JVAC HAS until Nov. 24 to interview the applicants and submit two to five names to Gov. Patrick Morrisey. The governor will then have 30 days to make an appointment.
Secretary of Commerce Matt Herridge is encouraged with West Virginia’s current economic state, but he has an eye for the near future.
Herridge spoke before the Joint Committee on Government and Finance during legislative interim meetings earlier in the month.
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Medicare Advantage providers, including some major insurers, are beginning to withdraw from certain markets at an alarming clip. And many that remain are choosing to reduce or eliminate compensation for licensed agents who serve Medicare beneficiaries.
As a result, licensed agents who focus on Medicare policies may be wondering why so many providers no longer value the trusted advice that they provide to beneficiaries.
The problem first surfaced in April 2024, when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued regulations that revised Medicare Advantage and Part D agent and broker compensation. Those regulations went into effect in October of 2024.
Funding Standoff: Government Shutdown Continues
The federal government’s doors remain closed because Congress has yet to agree on a funding deal for the new fiscal year. The government shutdown began on Oct. 1 and both political sides seem to be digging in.
Republicans are advocating for a “clean” continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government at levels established three years ago under then-President Joe Biden. In mid-September, the U.S. House of Representatives passed this clean funding deal on a mostly party-line vote, with one Democrat joining all Republicans to vote for it.
No Deal: NFIP Lapses as Government Shutdown Begins
A partial federal government shutdown began on Oct. 1 after Congress failed to agree on a new funding deal for the 2026 fiscal year. This has resulted in a lapse of National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) authority.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which manages the NFIP, has historically sent out a version of this memo—from December 2024—when the program lapses. However, the agency has not yet issued new guidance.
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Big I WV Annual Convention 2025
We had a fantastic time at Stonewall Resort this week connecting, learning, and celebrating with so many of our amazing members, partners, and friends in the industry. From inspiring speakers to engaging sessions and unforgettable networking opportunities — this year’s convention truly had it all!
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Big 'I' WV Recognizes Excellence
Big “I” West Virginia was honored to present four distinguished awards at our recent Annual Convention, celebrating excellence and leadership within the independent insurance community. We are incredibly proud of our organization, our dedicated members, and our valued industry partners who make our success possible.
As the leading voice for the state’s independent insurance agents, Big “I” West Virginia the growth, integrity, and strength of the independent agency system — a vital cornerstone of West Virginia’s economy and local communities.
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While comprehensive cybersecurity legislation hasn’t yet materialized at the federal level, states continue to forge ahead with new or expanded requirements.
A forerunner in cyber regulation, the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), finalized and approved a Second Amendment to its Cybersecurity Regulations (23 NYCRR Part 500) nearly two years ago. On Nov. 1, two new NYDFS requirements will go into effect, including one that requires the implementation of multifactor authentication (MFA).
This week, the Big “I” and J.D. Power released the “2025 U.S. Independent Agent Satisfaction Study.” It is the eighth year in a row that the two companies have teamed up to measure property & casualty independent insurance agents’ perceptions of their carriers.
The study tracks agent sentiment across multiple categories, including ease of doing business, communication practices and claims handling. It also separates findings between personal lines and commercial lines carriers.
Applied Systems hosted its annual Applied Net 2025 conference this week at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas, drawing a record crowd of more than 4,000 independent insurance agents and industry professionals.
This year’s conference made one thing clear: artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a buzzword, it’s becoming a daily tool to reshape how agencies quote, renew and serve clients.
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A homeowners client is building an addition on their secondary home, which is still occupied and furnished. The carrier says there is no coverage for theft of personal property.
For more than 35 years, the Big “I” Professional Liability Program, underwritten by Swiss Re Corporate Solutions America Insurance Corporation (rated A+ Superior by AM Best), has been the premier choice of Big “I” member agents for insurance agents and brokers E&O insurance.
The Big “I” Professional Liability Program offers not just a policy, but a comprehensive program for insurance agents. With the participation of Big “I” members from 50 states and the District of Columbia, we’ve grown into the largest and most stable insurance agents E&O program in the nation.
Apply for your E&O quote here..
Start your journey to earn your place among the best.t of the best.
Since 1993, the Best Practices Study has examined top-performing agencies across the country. For these agencies, inclusion provides the prestigious status of being a “Best Practices Agency” and opens the doors to many benefits.
The opportunity to be a part of the process takes place every three years, when the Big “I” and Reagan Consulting request agency nominations from state associations and company partners. There is no fee to participate, but the process, experience and information learned can be transformative.
To indicate your interest for the next cycle. Click here.
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Growing up in Hartford, Connecticut—then considered the insurance capital of the world—made the industry feel like a natural fit, but it was her passion for helping others that truly shaped her path. From a background in social work to senior leadership, Policastro‑Wik has built a career rooted in relationships and strategic thinking.
Today, she’s leading her agency, a 2025 Best Practices Agency, through thoughtful “modernization,” paying careful attention to embracing technology without losing the human touch. “Technology should strengthen our relationships, not replace them,” she says. “That’s the balance.”
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From One Generation to the Next: Navigating Agency Succession Planning
On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Peter van Aartrijk, executive vice president at Aartrijk is joined by Lee Gaudette, president of Gaudette Insurance, and his son, Peter Gaudette, commercial insurance advisor at Gaudette Insurance, and Keith Mangini, Vice President and Commercial Team Leader at InsurBanc.
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BIG I WV LEADERSHIP
Suzette Raines Ashley, President
Ashley Insurance Agency, LLC
Chris Parker, Vice President
Ferrell & Hill Insurance Agency
Anthony Deal, Treasurer
Insurance Centers
Chad Nuzum, Immediate Past President
Hood Insurance Group, LLC
Terri Dodrill, State National Director
McGriff Insurance Services
Brady Campbell, Young Agents Chair
Mountain State Insurance Agency
Traci Nelson, Chief Executive Officer
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DIRECTORS
Michael Winter
Bray & Oakley Insurance Agency
Beth Bailey
Bill Bailey Insurance Agency
Mike Cvechko
Cvechko Insurance Services
Charlie Robinson
Assured Partners dba Insurance Systems
Nick Dyer
Blueridge Risk Partners
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