State Farm Insurance is suspending sales of any new commercial or homeowner policies in Mississippi starting Friday. State Farm cited in part a wave of litigation it has faced after Hurricane Katrina. Mike Fernandez, vice president of public affairs, said the state's "current legal and political environment is simply untenable. We're just not in a position to accept any additional risk in this homeowners' market."
A Valentine's Day blizzard shut down schools and air travel and turned highways into skating rinks Tuesday. Nearly 300,000 homes and business had lost electrical service in the cold weather. At least 12 deaths were blamed on the huge storm system.
The Iraqi government formally launched a long-awaited security crackdown in Baghdad on Wednesday. U.S. and Iraqi troops are stepping up patrols, establishing new checkpoints and randomly searching cars to stop the violence in the capital. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said the sweep, code-named Operation Imposing Law, would target those "who want to continue with rebellion." Two U.S. soldiers died Tuesday.
Ben & Jerry's has named a new ice cream in honor of Comedy Central comedian Stephen Colbert. "Stephen Colbert's Americone Dream" is vanilla ice cream with fudge-covered waffle cone pieces and caramel. Ben & Jerry's is calling it "the sweet taste of liberty in your mouth." Colbert, who spoofs flag-waving conservative pundits on "The Colbert Report," is donating his proceeds to charity.
Kenneth K. Hammond, an off-duty police officer credited with helping stop a deadly shooting rampage at a Utah shopping mall, said his experience helped him react quickly to confront the gunman. On Wednesday, less than 48 hours later, police tape was removed from the parking lot as the mall reopened, although it was up to each shop owner whether to resume business.
