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NICB Warns Texans of Increased Contractor Fraud Risk Following Severe Flooding

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OAK BROOK, Ill., July 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As communities across Texas recover from severe storms and flooding, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the insurance industry’s association dedicated to predicting, preventing, and prosecuting insurance crime and fraud is warning homeowners and business owners to be alert for dishonest contractors and insurance-related scams.

Fraudulent contractors frequently target disaster-affected communities with high-pressure sales tactics and promises of immediate repairs to persuade property owners into signing contracts and surrendering their insurance benefits. Some unscrupulous vendors may demand large upfront payments, perform unnecessary or incomplete work, or encourage policyholders to exaggerate damage.  

“As Texans affected by these devastating floods begin the process of rebuilding their homes and communities, individuals seeking to exploit this disaster for financial gain begin pouring into these areas in attempts to get at recovery funds,” said David J. Glawe, President and CEO of NICB. “Before anyone signs on for repairs, it is important to contact your insurance carrier, carefully review every document and verify that the contractor is properly established and qualified to perform the service.” 

NICB offers consumers a free downloadable contractor checklist to help evaluate contractors before hiring them at https://www.nicb.org/media/2509/download/.  

Review these tips to avoid fraud after a catastrophe:   

Working With Insurance 

Call your insurance company first if you think you might have damage from a storm or other disaster.   Make sure you review and understand all documents sent to your insurance carrier. Signing an Assignment of Benefits agreement transfers your insurance rights to the contractor. Know what that means for you.   Never let a contractor interpret the language of your insurance policy or discourage you from contacting your insurance company.   Be on the lookout for people calling and saying they are with a national carrier. Do not provide ANY personal information over the phone without them first confirming a claim number. If something sounds fishy, report it to your insurance company immediately.   Note that insurance carriers will never ask you to pay your deductible up front or over the phone.   

Hiring a Contractor   

Get more than one estimate.   Request references and do the research.   Ask to see the salesperson’s driver’s license and write down the license number and their vehicle’s license plate number.   Look out for out-of-state contractor licenses and vehicle registrations, as these may indicate possible fraudulent contractors.   Never let a contractor pressure you into making a quick decision or hiring them.   Remember, if you didn’t request it, reject it!    

Getting the Work Done   

Get everything in writing. Cost, work to be done, time schedules, guarantees, payment schedules, and other expectations should be detailed and itemized.   Never sign a contract with blanks; terms you don’t agree with can be added later.   Never pay a contractor in full or sign a completion certificate until the work is finished.

About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is the nation’s leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to combatting and preventing insurance crime through Intelligence, Analytics, and Operations; Education and Crime Prevention; and Strategy, Policy, and Advocacy. NICB is supported by more than 1,200 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. To learn more, visit NICB.org.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nicb-warns-texans-of-increased-contractor-fraud-risk-following-severe-flooding-302840252.html

SOURCE National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB)

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Dynadot Publishes Quarterly Domain Intelligence Report for Q1, 2026

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SAN MATEO, Calif., July 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Dynadot, an ICANN-accredited and privately owned domain registrar, published Domain Intelligence Report: Q1 2026. To read the report please follow this link.

This report examines what moved in the domain market last quarter, drawing on exclusive Dynadot platform data alongside a survey of domain industry participants conducted in April 2026.

Readers will learn which top-level domains gained and lost ground, how regional demand is shifting, where investor and retail buying diverged, and how acquisition channels are changing. Registrations grew 40% year over year, but .com remained #1, .digital climbed from rank #56 into the top 10 while several previously prominent extensions fell more than 97%. Asia held roughly half of all registrations yet grew only 5%, while South America grew 269% from a smaller base.

For domain investors or anyone interested in the domain industry, this report is designed to help in deciding which extensions to hold, where to build, or what inventory to carry.

Survey findings in the report are presented as directional sentiment rather than a representative sample, and platform figures are indexed against a prior-year baseline so trends are readable without raw counts.

About Dynadot

Dynadot is an ICANN-accredited domain name registrar and domain marketplace founded in 2002 in San Mateo, California. Dynadot offers domain registration across 800+ of top-level domains, along with an aftermarket marketplace, website building and email service. The company also operates NameClub and tiny.BIO, a premium domain marketplace for brandable names.

Media Contact:
Dynadot Inc.
marketing@dynadot.com
dynadot.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dynadot-publishes-quarterly-domain-intelligence-report-for-q1-2026-302840272.html

SOURCE Dynadot Inc.

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In HelloNation, Insurance Expert Sissy LeClair-Blackadar Examines General Liability Insurance Before Bigger Contracting Jobs

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The Article Reviews How Contractors Can Evaluate General Liability Insurance Before Taking on Larger Commercial Projects.

LONGWOOD, Fla., July 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — What does general liability insurance actually cover for contractors? A HelloNation article now answers this question, outlining how this coverage helps contractors manage the everyday risks that come with bigger jobs.

The article explains that contractors take on new risk every time they start a project, from a dropped tool to accidental damage on a client’s property. General liability insurance is designed to help contractors manage these everyday risks before a small mistake turns into a costly claim.

According to the article, property damage claims are among the most common reasons contractors file a general liability claim. A cracked foundation, a burst pipe, or damaged landscaping can all lead to a dispute with a client or a neighboring property owner.

The article also describes how bodily injury claims work differently from property damage claims. These claims involve a client, visitor, or passerby who is hurt because of the work being performed, and medical costs can add up quickly without the right coverage in place.

Completed operations coverage is highlighted as another important part of many policies. The article notes that this protection addresses claims that surface after a project is finished, which matters most for work that is not visible once complete, such as plumbing, electrical, or structural repairs.

Subcontractor relationships receive attention as well. The article recommends confirming that every subcontractor carries active coverage and can provide a certificate of insurance before work begins on a site, a step that helps prevent disputes if an incident occurs during the project.

Coverage limits are described as just as important as the policy itself. The article points out that a contractor bidding on larger commercial jobs may need higher general liability insurance limits than one handling smaller residential work, and an umbrella policy can add another layer of protection once those limits are reached.

The article also touches on equipment and vehicles, noting that a general liability policy usually addresses third party claims rather than damage to a contractor’s own tools or trucks. Separate coverage, such as inland marine or commercial auto insurance, often works alongside a general liability policy to close that gap.

The article suggests that contractors document completed work with photos and detailed records, since this practice can support a claim if an issue surfaces months after a project wraps up. Working with an experienced agent also helps match coverage to how a contractor actually operates, since every trade carries different risks.

Insurance Expert Sissy LeClair-Blackadar of Sissy LeClair-Blackadar Insurance Agency Inc. in Longwood, Florida, is featured as the source of insights included in the article. Insurance Experts commonly recommend a regular coverage review, especially before a contractor bids on a larger or more complex contract, since business operations tend to change over time.

The article closes by noting that general liability insurance will not eliminate every risk a contractor faces on the job. It does provide a foundation of protection that can help address some of the most common claims tied to property damage and injury, giving contractors a clearer picture before they bid on new work.

Reviewing General Liability Coverage Before Bigger Contracting Jobs features insights from Sissy LeClair-Blackadar, Insurance Expert of Longwood, Florida, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused digital publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers expert-driven, good-news content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-hellonation-insurance-expert-sissy-leclair-blackadar-examines-general-liability-insurance-before-bigger-contracting-jobs-302840278.html

SOURCE HelloNation

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Power Sustainable Infrastructure Credit Closes $135M project financing to Convertus for Flagship Biofuel Facility in York Region

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Major financing milestone supported by Power Sustainable advances Canada’s first biofuel plant with integrated CO2 liquefaction technology toward commissioning and commercial operations.

LONDON, ON, July 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Convertus Group is pleased to announce the successful financial close of $135 million in project financing for its flagship biofuel facility located in York Region, Ontario.

The project financing was provided by Power Sustainable Infrastructure Credit (PSIC), with Selkirk Advisory Group serving as financial advisor to Convertus. Financial close represents a significant milestone as the project advances toward commissioning and commercial operations.

The state-of-the-art facility is designed to process up to 200,000 tonnes of source-separated organic waste annually and is expected to produce between 350,000 and 400,000 gigajoules of renewable natural gas each year. In addition to renewable natural gas, the facility will produce low-carbon liquid fertilizer and food-grade liquefied carbon dioxide (CO₂), creating multiple high-value, low-carbon products from a single waste stream while maximizing resource recovery.

“This financing represents a major milestone for Convertus and reflects the confidence that PSIC has placed in our business, our team and our long-term vision,” said Jamie Jongsma, Chief Financial Officer of Convertus Group. “We are grateful for PSIC’s partnership and for the expertise and guidance provided by Selkirk Advisory Group throughout the financing process. This facility represents the next generation of anaerobic digestion infrastructure and demonstrates how innovative technologies can transform organic waste into renewable energy and valuable low-carbon products.”

“The York Biofuel Facility will provide essential environmental infrastructure for York Region and the Greater Toronto Area, adding critical long-term organics processing capacity through a state-of-the-art facility designed with robust operational redundancy. Convertus’ high-caliber team has developed a top-tier project that combines advanced technology with meaningful circular-economy and decarbonization benefits. This financing reflects our focus on supporting experienced operators developing essential infrastructure with strong underlying economics and measurable environmental benefits. We are pleased to support Convertus as the facility advances toward commercial operations,” said Benjamin Shenwick, Principal at Power Sustainable Infrastructure Credit.

The project remains on schedule, with commissioning expected to begin later this year and service commencement anticipated in early 2027. Once operational, the facility will serve as the flagship of Convertus’ growing portfolio of advanced organics infrastructure, demonstrating the company’s ability to deploy leading-edge technologies that transform organic waste into renewable energy and other high-value circular products.

About Convertus Group
Convertus is a leading developer, owner, and operator of organics processing, anaerobic digestion, renewable natural gas, and resource recovery infrastructure across North America. Through long-term partnerships with municipalities and commercial customers, Convertus transforms organic waste into renewable energy and other valuable low-carbon products, helping communities reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advance the circular economy.

About Power Sustainable

Power Sustainable is a multi-platform alternative asset manager investing across the core sectors of the real economy as they undergo structural change. The firm allocates capital across energy, food, mobility, connectivity, and the built environment, investing selectively along their value chains through equity and credit strategies. Power Sustainable Infrastructure Credit is the firm’s infrastructure credit platform, providing flexible financing solutions to essential infrastructure businesses and projects across North America.

Power Sustainable focuses on opportunities where transition, resilience, and resource efficiency are drivers of performance and risk. Power Sustainable is a subsidiary of Power Corporation of Canada (TSX: POW), an international management and holding company focused on financial services in North America, Europe, and Asia.

About Selkirk Advisory Group
Selkirk Advisory Group is an independent firm providing financial advisory and structured financing solutions, specializing in project finance, for clients in the alternative energy and infrastructure sectors across North America.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/power-sustainable-infrastructure-credit-closes-135m-project-financing-to-convertus-for-flagship-biofuel-facility-in-york-region-302840297.html

SOURCE Power Sustainable

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